In a world full of constantly evolving unknowns, change is one of the only sure bets. As situations change, companies that are able to plan for the future and adapt quickly are more likely to succeed long-term.
Developing an organizational culture where change is not only accepted, but also embraced, is no small feat. Many employees associate the term “change management” with disruption and short-term inconvenience that probably won’t make their lives any easier in the long run either.
With previous system upgrades that were overhyped and underperform, it’s hard to blame them for their skepticism. Employee resistance can be an ongoing battle when establishing change management processes, but when done well, planned changes are an essential step in a company’s evolution.
Simply put, companies that do change management well survive. Companies that don’t adapt probably aren’t destined to last long.
What are the core elements of change management and how can companies build systems that work well for them? Here are the nuts and bolts of how to build an effective change management process that meets your company’s needs and objectives.
A change management process, in the simplest terms, is the battle plan that an organization uses to navigate through a major change or upgrade. As the comprehensive roadmap, change management processes outline the step-by-step plan from the present situation to the desired future outcome.
Just like corporate strategy, change management processes vary drastically based on company and culture. With that said, all change management processes should include the sequence of steps that need to be taken, the milestones that need to be reached, the people responsible for completing tasks, and an expected timeline for each phase.
As you can probably tell, change management is a broad and inclusive concept -- which makes agreeing on a one-size-fits-all definition rather impractical. The one constant that change management experts agree on is that excellent communication is paramount.
Every effective change management process needs clear, efficient communication channels. Everybody involved in the change process -- from CEO to IT assistant -- should know their roles, be equipped to execute their responsibilities and report back to project managers.
Companies with effective change management processes are better equipped to adjust to technological advancements, consumer behavior shifts, economic recessions and whatever unknowns they come up against.
Identifying areas in which your company needs to improve is imperative to any business. Accepting your weaknesses and developing change management processes can be long, painful and humbling, but transparency and brutal honesty are the foundation for building the most valuable change strategies that will position you for sustained success.
A successfully implemented change will likely involve a large amount of preparation, research, rehearsal, time, and of course, money, but this route is better than two other frightening alternatives:
The stakes are too high when making major organizational changes and technology upgrades to be hesitant, frugal or rash. Investing in the future reality that you want to create will position you to meet and surpass your long-term goals.
Developing a change management process from scratch initially can seem overwhelming, but splitting it into measurable goals will make it feel more manageable. We break the change management process into nine steps -- starting by clearly defining goals and concluding with reflection on key lessons for future change events:
Most major changes originate from a long-term goal that company leaders want to reach. Clearly defining the desired outcome -- both quantitatively and qualitatively -- is the first step of developing a change management process.
Let’s say a bank wants to launch automated help features on their mobile banking app. Their goals might be to:
With several clearly defined goals, it will be easier to pitch the value to stakeholders and get necessary approvals. Ultimate decision-makers usually have a wide array of experiences so goals should be simple, relatable and tailored to the target audience.
Draw up one set of key points for the CEO who is responsible for financing the project and another for process development experts who will spend months implementing the change management process.
Remember that gaining stamps of approval from all necessary constituents will take time and patience. You will likely need to make multiple presentations and navigate various layers of resistance.
Focus on those clear, measurable results that demonstrate the proposed change’s value. With thorough preparation and patience, you will increase the likelihood that your proposed change is approved.
Building upon the big picture goals, change management processes should specifically define who the change is designed for, what current systems will be affected and how the change will result in improvement for the company.
Going back to our mobile banking app example, we have a few groups of people who will benefit from automating help features on their mobile app:
When considering how each demographic is affected by the change, provide concrete evidence to support the change that you envision for each group by asking and answering tough questions:
If you can cite more empirical evidence for each affected demographic, your argument will be that much more persuasive.
Once you get approval, it’s time to move forward developing your master roadmap. Instead of approaching it as one massive change that may feel overwhelming, break the process down into multiple phases so it’s digestible for everyone involved.
Creating a master communication plan with phase titles, objectives, responsible team members and estimated timelines will help to establish expectations from the start. Remember that employees are usually wary about disruptions to their regular routines. Spend the necessary time listening to the concerns of employees and supervisors and clearly explain how the change will make their lives better.
Don’t expect to win their respect or approval overnight. Brace for resistance from the people who will eventually benefit from your long-term vision by handling these delicate conversations with patience and grace.
Thoroughly consider all variables for each phase and be thoughtful when delegating responsibilities. Especially in complex change management processes with multiple lengthy phases, it’s wise to be patient and expect that unexpected complications will probably arise. We recommend being conservative with time estimates here -- especially in preliminary phases such as training and rehearsals.
Here are a few phases that the project management team for the mobile banking app help feature might consider:
When you think your change management roadmap is done, take a step back and approach it with a fresh perspective and birdseye view. Ask yourself:
By evaluating all possible (even highly unlikely) scenarios before getting beyond the planning stage, you will be more equipped to overcome unexpected roadblocks.
Especially when making an upgrade that takes your company into uncharted territory, people will need to be trained. Change management team members need to develop the skills, knowledge and behaviors necessary to successfully implement the change.
The training phase is the opportune time to slow down and ensure everybody is on the same page. If one team isn’t clear on their responsibilities, it can cause avoidable disruptions during dress rehearsals or even the change event itself.
Build custom trainings that serve the needs of all project participants. Encourage them to ask questions. Design quizzes to check for understanding. Harness your inner teacher and empower participants with the expertise necessary to excel on the big day.
Once all team members have been trained, it’s time to do some test runs. We recommend dividing a first round of dress rehearsals into several independent phases.
Multiple preliminary rehearsals can be run simultaneously and dependencies can be simulated to save time. This will allow each team to work out their own kinks before running a comprehensive all-hands-on-deck rehearsal from start to finish.
The final dress rehearsal should include the entire team -- starting from the beginning. Focus on the phase transitions here and consider possible issues that may arise. Try your best to stick to the predetermined schedule, but remember that it is still just a rehearsal. It’s not the end of the world if things don’t go perfectly! Learn from any mishaps so you’re as prepared as possible for the actual change event.
Managing risk can be a delicate process. How do you know when the team is amply prepared? Multiple rounds of dress rehearsals may seem tedious and unnecessary, but being over-prepared is usually for the best.
When the stakes are high and the company has already invested substantial resources into the project, err on the side of caution and run that extra test.
You spent countless months getting approval, building your change management process, training change teams and leading rehearsals.
Now, the big day has finally arrived. Everyone seems equipped to execute their roles. In the final stretch, lighten the mood and offer positive feedback to everyone. Show the team that you’re calm and have full confidence in them. Do final checks to make sure all communication channels are live and commence. After seemingly endless preparation, it’s finally “go time.”
Stay focused on supporting the team as they complete their tasks and document completed tasks in your change management software.
If you fall behind schedule or something doesn’t go as planned, refrain from getting angry and assigning blame in the heat of the moment. Instead, take a deep breath and proceed forward with backup contingencies that you already prepared. Even with all of your preparation, it’s normal for something not to go precisely as planned.
In an absolute worst case scenario, you might have to abort and start again from the beginning. While you want to do everything in your power to avoid that scenario, it’s not the end of the world. Keep the team focused and morale high regardless of what happens.
Remember, since you prepared so thoroughly, that this is highly improbable. The most likely scenario is that things will run seamlessly and you will reach the finish line without major complications.
As you wrap up your successful change, make sure everything is clearly documented. Over the next several weeks, minor issues will arise and troubleshooting will be necessary. Having clear, intuitive documentation of all steps taken will make finetuning the new systems easier.
Send out notifications updating everyone affected by the change. Provide contact information for IT support to make the transition as seamless as possible.
Monitor new systems extra carefully for the first several weeks. Make sure all data displays correctly and user experience flows smoothly. Have your IT support team ready to collect feedback and troubleshoot problems.
Remember that people may initially be frustrated by the transition. Validate their concerns and patiently show them how to use the new tools effectively. It may not happen overnight, but as “the new system” becomes “the current system,” people will warm up to it and realize that they’re reaping the benefits.
Minor issues may still come up, but at this point, it’s time to celebrate your successful implementation!
Only you and your team truly understand how much work went into the change management process. Commend them for all their work and take some time to celebrate your accomplishment -- it’s a big deal!
Recognize individual contributors and groups that performed exceptionally well. Be liberal with your positive feedback. It will make your team feel appreciated and encourage them to take pride in their contributions. They will take more ownership in the change and be motivated to push company-wide adoption forward.
In the months following the change, it’s wise to spend some time reflecting on your overall change management process. Stand back from the entire process, evaluate your successes and failures, and identify areas of improvement for next time. Reflect on some key questions about your change:
For all successful companies, change is an ongoing, constant process. The only certainty when it comes to change is that there will be a next time. Doing thorough reflection will illuminate valuable lessons that will serve you well on your next major change.
Committing to continuous improvement in change management processes will lead to better communications, more efficient changes, and ultimately, a healthier, more successful business.
If you’re ready to get started developing your next big change management process, get in touch with us. Our team of change management experts are available to help you jumpstart your planned change strategy so your next cutover will feel like a breeze.