Think of horses in the starting gate. They are ready to run. All they need is for you to open the gate. If you've made a compelling case for change that some change is needed, then people can't wait to get started. You just need to open the gate.
A number of things need to occur at this stage. Here are the major ones:
- You need a clear target. Call it a goal, outcome, vision, it makes no difference. People need to know where they are headed. Decide who will determine this outcome.
- You must decide who will lead this new initiative.
- Decide who you will involve in planning and how deeply you want to involve them. (In our work, we find that things go a lot more smoothly when a lot of people are involved in creating their own futures.) Emphasis on team building is usually helpful.
- Create strategies to gain commitment from stakeholders who are critical to your success.
- Make sure you know what you need to know before committing to one path. Let's say you need a new software system that cuts across the company. Do you know what you need? Do you know the pluses and minuses of various software systems? Do you know the potential pitfalls that commonly go along with changes like this?
- Create tactical plans to get moving.
- Determine a way to monitor progress.
Articles and Assessment Tools. Managing organizational change can be challenging. Here are free articles and tools you can print and use today to begin to get started on the right foot. Click here >>
Tips for Leading Change. Sometimes all you need is a quick idea to get unstuck. That's what these tips are for. They are not a complete change management strategy, but simply ideas that might help you over the next hurdle. They are practical down-to-earth tips submitted by people who are out there leading change in their organizations. Click here >>
How We Can Help. Here is a description of all the ways in which we can help you make get started on the right foot. Click here >>
Other Resources. Books and other Resources that we recommend. Click here >>
