Kate Nelson, author, partner at Change Guides LLC in Cincinnati
If an organization is not realizing its vision, it is time to consider how to change the way things work. “New strategies are great, but they only change the outcomes of an organization if the processes through which work gets done and the behaviors of the people who work those processes change.”
What an organization accomplishes is an accumulation of the actions of the people who work in the organization, and helping people change their behavior takes attention and effort.
“Trying to ‘force’ people to work in new ways may seem like a good idea in the short term, but the dip in productivity when that happens costs more than you think,” she said. “A large percentage of a worker’s effort is discretionary — people choose if they want to be creative, passionate and problem-solving in their work. When they are forced to do things they don’t understand or have a positive perception of, they keep all of that extra effort to themselves, and productivity takes a nosedive.
It’s tough to sustain a new way of working if people are not ready, willing and able to work in new ways when the time comes.
“Also, as a leader of change, don’t underestimate the power of actions and words. If you think a project is important, show up for kickoff meetings and key project events. Spend time having lunch with key project team members and walking the halls of the team workspace. People will watch you to decide what they need to pay attention to and care about.”
