Change in a quantum way

There is a theory in quantum mechanics that it is possible the future influences the present (and possibly the past). I dug into it in a recent Discover Magazine article.

And did my best to understand the true meaning for quantum mechanics, but big picture mentality that I have…

I got to wondering how that might look for the change process.

It could mean there are multiple versions of result and effect. Basically versions of success and failure. Successful establishment of process and an adaptation of culture to speed change if the future has anything to do with it should be the hand that pulls in the present.

Reinvention- Chosen Change

I re-formatted my computer yesterday and instead of using my imaged backup I chose to start from scratch. Which seeded  a train of thought about Chosen Change. As individuals there are countless opportunities to choose change- jobs, hobbies, friends, networks, environment, etc all have the potential to be tweaked, molded and turned upside down. The more that is upended at once the greater the possibility of different perspective, approach and, possibly, results.

While virtually impossible in most cases there are large systems that would benefit from upending chosen change- (caveat US and California viewpoint) the educational system, the health system, the legal system, the political system, fill in your own.

Change Management Languaging- The search for the owner

The owner is the executive that will foot the bill, the true buyer if external resources are used.

Footing the bill in any business situation should be an indicator of responsibility.

Owner means possession, acceptance of maintenance, pride, a signal of the value.

Using the word in Change Management sends a message of importance.

What does the word owner replace?

The burned out overused and misused term “Sponsor” or worse “ Executive Sponsor”.

Sponsors pay money to support something and then typically do not show up. Worse is sending a representative. Sound like some change initiatives you have seen?

The Silos are still there just different…

Change Management Web

It occurred to me while working on a paper for an upcoming change management conference that silos will always exist in some way. There are times when that is a good thing.

Tight intact project teams

Virtual organizations tasked with specific deliverables

Boards of Directors (OK that one is good and bad)

Transactional functions

 

I am potentially using the picture on the left to illustrate a change entity in an organization. The straight spokes represent functions  and the circular connections illustrate project, program, initiative, transformational effort (from the inside to the outside).

Change Management- the process and the communication

Vision to Work change management phases

Put together (to continue the last two posts) the change management process and communications lay out a path to turn idea into work then into result/change/solution. With an understanding of what happens to people, process and connection during that journey the leaders and practitioners can help to connect task to big picture and big picture to competency.

Change Management communication phases

Vision to Work Change Management communication phase chart

Change Management communication has four phases.

Idea communication

Awareness

Project Communications

Gauging success

idea communication-

This is the time that the original idea goes through the process of matching to corporate strategy and connecting to the experience, perspective and knowledge of stakeholders. Obviously not everything can be communicated. A sensible level of transparency during this stage will be rewarded in later phases with increased participation and productivity.

awareness-

Planning for Change from the Beginning- Change Management for fast growth companies

 seedlings early growth
Plan ahead for levels of growth by structuring your organization with a change component.

Each layer of growth in a firm typically adds a layer of titles; each new title has the potential to create a new silo. Eventually it becomes difficult to move the organization fast enough to grow again.

If from the first stage of growth someone is responsible for horizontal connections (collaboration, communication, training across functions, diagonal mentoring etc) your culture will build around working together on the companies business objectives.

End State- Change Management’s Pot of Gold

End state at the end of the rainbow

At the End State lies the alignment of vision, process and people/behavior change to business objectives. There you will find a Pot of Gold full of capital for the next initiative-if you can navigate the change path. It is winding, meandering and typically only the first leg is clear. To smooth out the journey it helps to visualize the last leg of the trip and to be clear about the end state. Like a stream down a hill the path will then appear.

 

What is the End State?

C-level leverage of your Change Management Trusted Advisor

You do have one?

Pulling Bent Nail 1

Placing an external change management resource high in an organization is incredibly powerful. Leveraging that power in a way that is honest and effective is an approach few C-level executives choose to use. I will make the assumption that this is a tool at the bottom of the box that you did not know you had.

This is what has happened when I have lived this role for a client-

The employees are shocked and surprised like a kid who gets two pieces of candy at the store instead of one.

End State back- The Change Management Path

The ideal way to lay out a change management process is to come to a description of the end state and work back toward the present. This gives a view of what will have changed to get there. Knowing what will change can help determine the resources, the new behaviors and any new structure to the organization. That will then guide the division of phases leading to the project streams within those phases and finally the task associated with those streams.

 

But that is typically not what happens.