Every four years in the United States we listen to the perspectives of multiple people and eventually two who compete against each other to become President of the United States. During the last election cycle the thought struck me that really people are voting for whether or not they want change.
One of the great challenges of a leader whether that is in a small business, large business, government or your home is how to effectively lead through change. In my home we may change plans at the last minute and it can set off some cataclysmic reactions. My problem is I can be a bit of a control freak and think everyone will agree with what I want to do and if not they should just get on board. . . . I know great leadership huh?
The wonderful part about my life is I have a spouse who helps temper me . . . a lot! She understands that if we make a sudden change without involving the children in the process on some level everything will be much less calm. As I reflect on my amazing wife’s skills I realize she intuitively understands some of the foundational principles of change that author John Kotter provides in his classic Leading Change.
Urgency
The first step in leading change is creating a sense of urgency. Mom and dad usually see the urgency as does any leader of a team or organization, but they have to help others sense that urgency too. One effective way to do that is create some type of crisis. Purposely let an initiative fail so that people sense the need to improve how they approach their work. As a parents we establish the possibility of a crisis of the boys losing time doing an activity they enjoy. Not necessarily how you do it at work, but it can be effective at home.
A Team
The second step Kotter explains is to create a guiding coalition or a team. This is the group of key influencers who are on board with the change process. I think of a newly elected president and one of the first tasks is to get a group of people around him or her who agree with the changes that need to occur and are willing to live out the vision as an example to those they lead. This group of individuals also should have a certain amount of influence even without the President’s appointment of their position.
Paint the Picture
In order for anyone to consider changing, they need to believe you know where you want to go and want to go with you. In order for this to happen they need to see the vision of what you want to accomplish. If I want to change the plans on my children then it will save me some battles if I first explain why and hopefully that will help them to more willingly agree to the change (even though as young children they will have to ultimately do it). This same principle applies with those we lead at work.
Empower
My wife reminds me of this part of change by suggesting we get ideas from the boys on something we are planning to change. When we do, and then implement some of their ideas they feel empowered and more willing to join the change with a positive mindset. This can also be effective at work. Get input . . . listen . . . and implement the suggestions that make sense while having some of the suggestion makers lead that implementation.
After learning a few of Kotter’s principles for change how do you need to be more effective at leading change both at work and home?
©2018 Wheeler Coaching Systems, All Rights Reserved
