Deborah Nystrom
Ron Koller & Deb Nystrom
Ron Koller
Leverage is one reason why leaders work in collaboration as well as hire consultants, who have the gifts & skills of helping create multiple perspectives to help deal with difficult, complex, even wicked problems. This quote rings true in my experience with change projects: "If knowledge is power, clandestine knowledge is power squared; it can be withheld, exchanged, and leveraged." -- Letty Cottin
__________________________________________
If knowledge is power, clandestine knowledge is power squared; it can be withheld, exchanged, and leveraged. ~ Letty Cottin
__________________________________________
For leveraging reasons, what are some simple to say, yet robust ways that to think about how change happens in change implementation/transformation projects? The books are legion, yet it’s helpful to revisit a few, simple change principles I often use to complement the work of the theorists and change writers that we have met and use. These include Kathie Dannemiller for wholescale change, Daryl Conner for change execution and transformation, and John Kotter for his actionable, clear 8 step process.
Here are my current three change principles:
1) Knowledge: Leverage purpose and passion in the microcosm. Gathering people from the organization into a microcosm enables change agents to hear and customize the change approach to use the culture and systems appropriately to leverage early change work. Beginning work on purpose, connection, passion and yearnings begins here.
A quote that works well with this is: “What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Photo: "I often do presentations to share my learning & resources, and usually walk away with new "co-created" learning that takes me to another level of understanding about my topic." --Deb Nystrom at the Center for Independent Learning at the July, 2011 session on Bullying in the Workplace, sharing research about peer networks and peer witnessing.
2) Passion: Co-create by getting the whole system in the room. Wholes system work enables change leaders to a) walk the talk that people will own and implement what they're helped to create, b) demonstrate live, with stories and data how to deal with the early snares to increase the success rate of change project and c) set free productive energy which also helps deal with baggage from previous implementations that may have failed, d) build the sense of urgency, the business imperative, and the excitement and vision for the change. For the big investment of time of creating such an event, it's worth it to do much with so many in the service of clarity of purpose and vision.
__________________________________________
Time and time again, ...I see that the change journey is not out there, it's inside. ~ Deb Nystrom
__________________________________________
A quote that works well with this is: “What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson. Time and time again, demonstrated by the executive coaching side of my own work, I see that the change journey is not out there, it's inside.
3) Talk: Leverage the macrocosm with great communication, data and stories to build visible traction. Ensure the best communication tools available (social media and traditional) leverage quick wins and early signs of success, while testing that the organization demonstrates clarity and consistency of message for the change. Great communication about progress is powerful leverage for change sustainability.
When you winnow down what principles and lessons learned that have worked best in your change experiences, what works best for you? What key words capture the essence of your favorite change principles?
--Deb
