Posts Tagged ‘Change’

Leading is challenging at the best of time.  In the current economy, the need to make change is even more pressing for many organisations and those working in them in management and leadership roles.  The big barrier that managers and leaders need to overcome is not about process or project management.  So what is it?

Getting others to see the need and importance of making change

So how do you address this big barrier?

1. Explain in very clear and simple terms the current situation.
2. Outline the likely consequences for the organisation and individuals of doing nothing.
3. Set out what needs to happen and by when to address the situation.
4. Gain support from a sufficiently large cohort of the workforce and their representatives to make it happen.

What else would you add to the list to remove the biggest barrier?

I was reading in the November 2008 edition of the magazine Professional Manager that the Chartered Management Institute’s President Sir John Sunderland sees Change Management as one of the most in demand skills over the next 10 years.

In the currently challenging economy it is easy to see why that would be the case.  I am also wondering what other skills people see as vital over the next 10 years.  Leave a reply with your thoughts

In the currently challenging economic climate, many organisations are having to embark on financial turnaround or financial survival projects.  While these might be necessary, what mistakes is it important to avoid?

1. Seeing it as something for the accountants rather than business change projects.
2. Focusing too much on quick fixes.
3. Deck chair shuffling.  In other words making the easy changes while ignoring the big stuff.
4. Short term focus rather than trying to create sustainable success over the longer term.
5. Failing to give sufficient time to people to make the change happen.

What additional mistakes do you see when it comes to financial turnaround projects?