What Should Change About Change in 2016 - A Letter from Don Harrison
Dear Change Professional,
With the holidays behind, it's time to plan for the year ahead. The beginning of a new year is an opportunity to look forward, and think about what we should do differently. Here are three thoughts based on my continued global Field Research on organizational change: 
- The truth is that all of us are in the business of change. The problem is that some of us don't recognize it, and continue to manage with eyes closed to today's reality.
- Too many organizations are reeling from the chaos created by so much change piled on, with no attempts made to prioritize or even sequence the implementation of large-scale programs.
- Many organizations are becoming disillusioned with Engagement Surveys that fail to fundamentally change the way people do their work, or how people are managed. Because there is no perception of change, organizations are entrenching resistance and cynicism in the workforce.
So what should change about change?
- Take all the money you are spending on Engagement Surveys and invest instead in teaching managers how to create productive reinforcing relationships with their direct reports. Then hold managers accountable for doing it.
- Many senior executives believe that "change management" is templates and forms that they can assign an individual "to do" to the organization. Instead, executives should focus more on driving change through their own actions and behaviors. Sponsors control the pace of implementation through their own actions, and have the most significant impact on it. Look inward first, and the potential for improvement is significant.
- Strategic imperatives in 2016 should include greater focus on prioritization and sequencing.
How change is implemented is as important as what is implemented. Every organization can become better at implementing change projects by applying process, discipline and rigor {Click to Tweet This}.
Let us work together to improve the way you do change in your organization in 2016.
Best regards,
Don
Don Harrison, President IMA
303-996-7777; 800-752-9254
