Monday, November 25, 2013

What Change Leaders Need to Get Right

by Amy Crocker

We're uber interested in change management around here, as our favorite change management expert Dr. Gary Bradt helps tons of organizations manage and adapt to change. So I found this little study very interesting...

Towers Watson recently came out with the results of their 2013 Global Change and Communication ROI study (CC ROI), and according to the study, most organizations are failing their managers horribly by relying on ineffective tools and training to help them manage change. Here are a couple of key findings from the study:

  • About half (55%) of change initiatives meet their initial objectives, and only 1 out of 4 companies sustain those gains over the long term, and
  • About 9 out of 10 (87%) organizations train managers to manage change, but only 1 out of 4 of those say the training is effective

So what should leaders do differently? According to the study, change leaders should focus on helping managers 1) understand why people resist change; 2) role-model the desired behaviors;
3) talk with their teams early and often; and 4) ask employees for input. And 5) [added by me] ask Dr. Bradt how to actually do the first four.

Here's a great infographic of the study too:
http://www.towerswatson.com/en/Insights/IC-Types/Survey-Research-Results/2013/08/Infographic-2-2013-Change-and-Communication-ROI-Study