Change Management
Change is a constant companion and challenge for leaders. Learning to plan, implement and manage change successfully is critical for every leader. OD consultants can help you:
- Think intentionally about change; answer the question “Why change?”
- Identify hoped-for outcomes and possible unintended consequences
- Assess the unit’s readiness for change; identify what will move the change forward and what obstacles exist
- Create a strategy to implement change in the unit
- Develop involvement strategies to involve others at strategic points
- Understand the change process – what to expect and what to prepare for as people adapt to change
- Create communication plans to share information and to receive input
- Develop ways to monitor the change and its effects; gathering evidence of the change
In our work, we ascribe to two specific models.
John Kotter, Leading Change
One model, developed by author and professor John Kotter, focuses on the need to carefully and thoroughly plan for the successful implementation of an organizational change. His model describes eight steps:
- Establish a Sense of Urgency
- Form a Powerful Guiding Coalition
- Create a Vision
- Communicate that Vision
- Empower Others to Act on the Vision
- Plan for and Create Short-Term Wins
- Consolidate and Keep Moving
- Anchor the Change
William Bridges, Managing Transitions
The second model is based on the work of author William Bridges and focuses on the mental adaptation to change he calls “transition.” His theory consists of three phases:
- Endings (identifying what is over)
- Neutral Zone (dealing with ambiguity)
- New Beginnings (defining the new world)
As OD consultants we use these models to help leaders plan and implement change. We achieve these through various interventions, including:
- Strategic conversations
- Coaching leaders
- Conducting climate assessments
- Conducting focus groups
- Linking the unit with additional resources on and off campus
- Helping build change teams or task forces
The first step is to contact your OD consultant to discuss your needs and to design a customized approach.
Contact your Organization Development Consultant for more information
