Killing Change ~ 5 Easy Pieces

Change is fragile, one step forward, two steps back as anxiety wrestles with progress; the former often stronger than the latter.

Yet, there are things leaders can do, should do to give change a chance: be clear, be connected, be agile in the face of the unexpected.

And things not to do simply because they tend to subvert the very momentum for change your leadership creates.

Here are five of my favorites with catch phrases to help you stop yourself before you get started!

1) Make a promise or two, or three ...

‘I promise you ...’ Yea, and the check is in the mail too. Fact is certainty is a myth, probability is not. Better to tell people the future you’re betting on, ask for what you need, and invite them to join you. It’s the promise of your leadership they want and including them delivers that.

2) Name that Change ...

“Henceforth the change will be known as ...” Can you say ‘flavor of the month’ with me? Really now, you’ve been on the other end of this, no? Instead of naming the change, insist on it and lead with it in the decisions you make and actions you take. After all, isn’t this how you intend to do business from now on anyway?

3) Ask someone else to take your place ...

“____ is now the champion of ...” Problem is champions tend to over-perform at the expense of more of the shared accountability you had hoped for from others. Instead make yourself the champion of the change and the expectation everyone else will be too. The more hands on change the more hands in its success.

4) Play God ...

‘I empower you to ...’ another way of saying what you want people to do, only indirectly. Expect plenty of cynicism in return; no one has that kind of power. People, however, can empower themselves. So instead ask them what they need to succeed, then clear the way so they can. What could be more empowering than that?

5) Suck it up ...

‘I’ll do it myself ...’ at the peril of burnout or failure? Burnout because you’re the one putting out all the fires, failure when you no longer can. Better to have sponsors above, followers below, colleagues along side. If it is the idea that ignites change, it’s always the relationships that sustain it.

Had enough? OK, don’t do these anymore. Stop if you’ve started. Promise yourself never again.

In the meantime, got examples of your own to share? Send and I’ll post, maybe prevent some heartaches along the way.

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