Creating the Environment for Change – 5 Change Levers

5 levers of changeTo maximise the chances of achieving effective change there are 5 levers of change that must be addressed. Missing just one will allow the chances of success to decrease dramatically. Primeast can help you make planned change happen well.

What we can do for you

Primeast is skilled at leveraging the hearts and minds of people throughout the business. We use a range of methodologies to embed the 5 Levers of Change.

Consistency

This is a fundamental key to change leadership, embedding values and the management of behaviours and actions to create effective change. Consistency in what is said and done creates trust and confidence. It provides the safety and certainty in which to operate, explore and engage, in line with the business needs. By providing consistency of message and alignment of systems and processes, you allow people to make their contribution within boundaries which support a flexible but focused organisation.

Alignment

The alignment of the strategic change to the systems, processes, policies and procedures is essential. We use PrimeFocus, cultural review tools and research methodologies to help guide leaders in this area.

The strategy starts at the top and alignment must be clear in the cascade. How do individuals and teams contribute to the overall strategy, what is our own strategy and what do we need to do to achieve it in line with our values and vision? How will we cascade it down in our sub areas to ensure consistency and alignment? These are the challenges all leaders and managers will face and an area where we can help. Gaining alignment creates energy and focus.

Communication

Communication is the effective combination of face-to-face, informal and formal channels in the organisation. It includes top-down/bottom-up, internal/external, written, verbal and electronic. Issues to consider include, time, speed, information content, context, knowledge, control and feedback.

It also includes the stories, legends, reputation and values of the business, making it what it is today and how it will be in the future. We will help you consider the most effective communication strategy to create impact and inspires your people.

Critical Mass

To create change of a certain scale it is necessary to embrace the energy in the whole system. Change operating in isolation will not bring about the full benefits and added value. Without engagement, change can be seen as being ‘imposed’ and ‘done to me’. Engagement enables people to contribute their ideas, experience and knowledge. They are able to validate the change and become supporters and advocates of it, which encourages ownership and responsibility.

Sometimes the difference between having or not having a critical mass can be determined by only a small number of influential people. Just before a critical mass is reached, there is often informed pessimism and maximum resistance to change. Critical mass supports the break-through.

Emotion

Active management of ‘hopes and fears’, ‘anxiety and curiosity’ is critical for successful change. Change is in the organisation, transition is in the mind of people. Transition is much more difficult than change – without transition there is no change.

The 5 Levers of Change concept is inspired by David A. Garvin’s HBR article “Building a Learning Organization”

To find out more, contact our offices directly, or email od&change@primeast.com.

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