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STEP BY STEP

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3

Implement Effective

CHANGE

"Give me six hours to chop down the tree and i will spend the first four sharpening the axe" - Abraham Lincoln

It's all very well to hold a vision of how we want things to look but how do we get from here to there!?

 

Implementing effective change can be a far more elusive process than we expect.

 

Ensuring that the 'new' takes shape and produces the desired results, we need to understand what comes with any change and be prepared for it.

 

We love our comfort zone and when pushed beyond it there is always a risk that we will give up before we find the new improved 'comfortable'.

 

Knowing that this resistance will surely rise up, we can prepare for it and understand what we need to remember, when we just want to fall back into our old patterns.

 

​Holding fast to the vision and knowing that better things are on the horizon helps us to endure the disruption change can bring, along with a few other tools that can help ensure our success.

S.M.A.R.T

Once you have reviewed the main issues and made decisions about proposed solutions (projects) it's important to make sure they are:

 

  • Specific - target the specific area for improvement

  • Measurable - quantify an indicator of progress.

  • Assignable - specify who will do it

  • Realistic - what can realistically be achieved, given available resources.

  • Time Bound - specify when the result(s) can be achieved.

One Step at a time

Each of these projects need to be broken down into assignable/manageable tasks (often referred to as a Work Breakdown Structure) which help you to then determine who will be involved and how long it might take. You can get a broad sense of this at first, just so you are able to make decisions about which projects will be your priority.

First things First

Once you have defined your project it's time to decide which have the highest priority. This might be determined by a few factors: dependency on another to start, time frame until completion, most significant positive outcomes. 

The Comfort Zone

Buckle up, it's time to depart the Comfort Zone. No, it's not going to feel automatic and easy straight away, you're teaching your brain a new way of doing things, change doesn't feel comfortable. Prepare for resistance and procrastination and a pattern of trying to revert back into the old ways, it's bound to arise! When it does, you'll recognise it and put it in perspective.

Handling Resistance

No one can 'fix' a business if the people involved are not willing to embrace change. Those involved must acknowledge change is required and be willing to be on board. This will be different in each environment and there a few tools for encouraging team members, ie. including them in brain storming and setting priorities can help them to feel more positive about the change.

Eyes on the prize

It is important to be clear about your vision when working through change. Keep your eyes on the prize, even when the road feels a bit bumpy and unfamiliar, soon enough you will reap the benefits of making these changes. The more knowledge you gain the better prepared you will feel for whats to come.

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