Think of an example of a“not so successful”change you’ve seen…What adjectives describe your feelings?
Think of some smoother changesyou’ve gone through:What are some words that describe the process?
Session Agenda
“Managing Transitions”
“The Anatomy of Change”
“Asking the Right Questions”
“George’s Top 10 List”
Managing “Transitions”
“It isn’t the changes that do you in.”
Change is situational
The new boss, new computer system, new policy
Change is external
Transition is a psychological process
Coming to terms with the new situation
Transitions are internal
“Unless transition occurs, change will not work.”
3 Phases of Transition
The Ending
Begin with the ending
Letting go; identify and acknowledge the loss
Give people something to take with them
The Neutral Zone
Opportunity, creativity, learning, involvement
The New Beginning: The 4 P’s:
Purpose
Picture
Plan
Part to Play
The Process of Transition
Sell the problem before you try to sell the solution
Identify who is losing what
Give information – again and again
Involve people in the process
Treat the past with respect
Outcome: new attitudes, behaviors, identity for the people in the organization
Dealing with Ongoing Change
Change is the norm
Integrate other, ongoing changes within the context of the larger strategy within which the ongoing transitions occur
Clarify your mission – what are you trying to do and what are people’s roles in it?
Sell problems, not solutions
Change as a challenge that calls for a creative response involving everyone in the organization
The Anatomy of Change
Vision
Skills
Incentives
Resources
Action Plan
= Successful Change
Confusion
Anxiety
Gradual Change
Frustration
False Starts
How do I mobilize my campus for change?
Asking the right questions:
Where are we now?
Where do we want to go?
How will we get there?
How will we know if we are (getting) there?
How will we sustain focus and momentum?
George’s Top Ten List
“Change is not a choice”
Meryl Streep, as Susan Orleans in Adaptation
George’s Top Ten List
No matter how hard you try, some people will not change!
George’s Top Ten List
Know the answer to “what’s in it for me” at all levels of the organization
George’s Top Ten List
Expect the unexpected!
George’s Top Ten List
Senior management must “walk the talk”
George’s Top Ten List
Make sure your plan factors into account:
politics
people
systems
business process
George’s Top Ten List
You get what you ask for
train
discuss
report
George’s Top Ten List
Be careful of your own actions…
be an early adopter - not only for your change project but others
don’t complain
cheerlead!
George’s Top Ten List
Celebrate!
Success
Reward those who are trying!
Look for alignment across systems
George’s Top Ten List
ROW, ROW, ROW
YOUR boat
GENTLY
DOWN the stream
MERRILY MERRILYMERRILYMERRILY
Life is but a DREAM!
References
Bridges, William (1991) Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change Addison-Wesley Perseus Books: Reading, MA.
•Holcomb, Edie (2001) Asking the Right Questions: Techniques for Collaboration and School Change.