Reasons why you should wait to introduce change management

There aren’t any reasons to wait to introduce change management. Absolutely none.

People are a major driver for the successful implementation of any project. If we would ask the question: “Should we do something about change management?” Most of you will answer: “Yes!” However, if we would ask the question: “When should we start with it?” The answer is less clear for most of you. People tend to wait till the moment everything is clear in full detail, till we know exactly WHAT to do, so we are surely not confusing our people. But is this the right moment?

Experience has taught us that the sooner you start with change management, the better. This means you can start doing change management from the moment you know WHY you need a certain project. When you have a challenge you want to solve, you can already start.

Let us explain why it makes sense to start introducing change management already at the WHY phase…

At the start of the project, we often assume that we all have the same problem statement in our minds. However, nothing is further from the truth. We forget that people tend to have a different perspective of the problem—or don’t even see the problem at all—because they analyze it from their own role or background.

Therefore, before jumping on the train of the future, let’s first reflect on the current situation. Let’s share our visions with each other and let’s create one common understanding. And most important of all: let us not do all of this in a purely rational way; we are not doing a business case exercise here! Show your colleagues your problems, let them see or feel them and let us all together a gut-smacking goal together, so you all start from the same page!

To have a successful project, you need people who are willing to go that extra mile. The best way to make your people passionate about the project is to let them help build it. Who does not prefer writing their own story over receiving a script from someone else?

We believe there are three guidelines to composing a successful cast (or change team) for our story (or project):

• Build it as soon as possible. Even from the design onward? Yes, great!
• Make it diverse. People from the key project team, key users, management and many others—can all be in it!
• Involve them. In everything. In your communication strategy, company letter messages, project planning and much more. Let them go through the change journey themselves, teach them to understand and handle it, and let them be the real promoters of your project toward all stakeholders involved. Nothing is more convincing than the message and motivation of people who went through it themselves.

“I agree this all makes sense, but we have to move fast, so we will not have time for this!” Indeed, involving the change agents from the beginning will take more time, and yes, it would be far more “efficient” if we start with a very small group that makes a design, thinks about communication and does nothing at all about change management at the beginning. However, the risk related to this approach can also be big: no buy-in and ownership by the people you need to execute all of your very nice ideas. Thus, involving them as soon as possible is maybe an extra effort in the beginning, but we ensure it will pay off during the rest of your project and even way beyond.

So, where did you start your change management track? Already in the why phase, or only after the what phase? What the case may be, we can help. Reach out to chat with one of our experts!