How often do we define change before we start managing it? This is one of the main problems in change management arena. We attempt to manage ‘the undefined’. Further, change operates at different levels. The attributes at each level are different. Therefore, strategies and focus to implement change must be different as well.
In the following example, I have attempted to demonstrate this with help of examples:
Few points to note:
- At a high level, challenges to implement change remains same at all levels
- Individual change is foundation of Organisational and Community change. In other words, change programs must have strategies to change individual’s behaviors/habits before successfully implementing organisational or Community change. Therefore, it is important to understand individual psychology (such as social proof) to implement the change successfully.
- Leadership is one of the main success factors among all levels of change.
- Risk in implementing change is directly proportional to ‘Extent of change’.
- The fundamental mechanism to motivate for change at all the levels – Carrot – is some sort of reward. It can be financial, security, association with something big – like environment preservation etc.
- The fundamental mechanism that restricts to support the change at all the levels – Stick – is some sort of individual’s shame and/or guilt. It can be of different forms. For example, Social boycott, Demotion etc. However, the underlying emotion is shame and guilt of an individual.
- Succession of quick little successes is better than one big success that takes a longer time. Individuals associate easily to successes (big or small). This increases fan following and strength of the change agents.
In the nutshell, we must be able to clearly define the change. We must have clear understanding on which level we are operating? Purpose and scope of the change? Who will benefit and who will lose because of the change?
This will help us to formulate clear strategies to implement the change programs.
I hope you find this post useful. Share your experiences! What do you think?