The 5 Must Have Ingredients for Successful Change

1. Commitment

If anything is going to change, there must be commitment at all levels. The top team need to be clear on the need for the change, buy into it and be committed to helping others achieve it.

2. Communication

When employees are not clear what is happening, they start to speculate, make their own judgements and choices. A clear and effective communication strategy is one of the essential cornerstones of any change.

3. Realism

Successful change is grounded in realism. Take for example two organisations that are facing significant financial challenges. The CEO of A PLC states that it will take three years to turn things round. The CEO of B PLC states that everything will be fixed in 9 months. If you are a shareholder, analyst, employee, supplier or customer, which organisation are you most likely to get behind?

4. Defined Outcome

Any organisation that wants to make a successful change needs to be clear on where it is heading and what it will be like when the change has been completed.

5. Clear Accountability

The fifth essential ingredient in successful change is make sure that everyone know what they are responsible for and that there is a clear process that holds people to account for what they have achieved.

What else would you add to the list?

About the Author Duncan Brodie

Since 2006 I’ve worked with in excess of 8,000 accountants and professionals in workshops, seminars and one to one helping them land their next jobs and become better leaders, presenters and business partners. Before that I spent 25 years in accountancy climbing the career ladder from Payments Clerk to FD. I’m a CIMA Fellow, Certified Professional Coach and Team Coach Facilitator.

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13 comments

Julia Lindsey says 29 January 2010

I would add a system and way to monitor the outcome. for example if your goal is to increase sales then measuring what the conversion rate of the sales may be important. Without a system to check your progress it is hard to know what is working and what is not.

Change Management Program says 21 May 2010

This was a well thought documentation; you have covered a lot of points here.

Change Management Best Practices says 17 August 2010

Nothing beats finding some useful information, for my research, keep em coming.

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The 5 Must Have Ingredients for Successful Change

About the Author Duncan Brodie

Leave a Comment:

13 comments

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