Implementing Positive Change
Organizations are faced with unparalleled challenges from uncertainties in their markets, challenges from their competition, and the challenges created by the troubled global economy. Leadership decisions made by executives today are more complex and at the same time more consequential. How can an executive and indeed the entire management team prepare themselves and their teams to lead in this unclear environment? What are the best ways forward when leadership is on the line? While the challenges are many, they point to one fundamental need and that is making positive changes in an organization to improve productivity and enhance shareholder value.
The reality is that most management teams do not have the full cadre of resources available to effect long-term change. At the same time, increasing throughput simply by working harder is rarely a sustainable outcome. To increase efficiency while reducing operating costs, management must be able to rapidly implement new business skills and processes while investing in and rolling out new technologies and product offerings.
MainStream's proven change management services enable organizations to identify the changes that are required to achieve business objectives, prepare a workforce for coming changes, manage the complexity of change under duress, and establish improved operational metrics and transition to the desired state.
Process Change x Cultural Acceptance = Sustainability (P x A = S)
This is MainStream's proven formula for successful change implementation, and a clear differentiating advantage that sets us apart from other change management firms. What we know from our vast years of experience in the turnaround and workout industry is that when you take Process change and combine it with cultural Acceptance change methods what you end up with is a change strategy that yields unparalleled Sustainability. Our methods include a thorough analysis of your organization's culture and the identification of barriers to acceptance of necessary change. Any resistance to or misunderstanding of the change process must be frankly addressed within a supportive, respectful environment. Any solutions are only as effective as the willingness of your people at all levels to embrace them.
After an organization's selected process leaders have been trained and certified by MainStream, we turn over the on-going facilitation to these leaders. Our goal is to provide your organization with the tools needed to carry forward sustainable improvement independently.
Focus on Short Term Objectives
MainStream knows that there are certain principles that when followed create for more effective management of change. Change management entails thoughtful planning and sensitive implementation, and above all, consultation with, and involvement of, the people affected by the changes. Normally when you forcibly dictate change on people problems arise. Change must be realistic, understandable, achievable and measurable. Prior to initiating organizational change, ask yourself these questions:
What do we want to achieve with this change,
How will we know that the change has been achieved?
Who is affected by this change, and how will they react to it?
How much of this change can we achieve ourselves, and what parts of the change do we need help with?
MainStream believes that during the early stages of change, organizations need to focus on short term objectives that work in concert with the long term or overall change strategy. Don't create false short term wins as people will see through that as a veiled attempt to secure buy-in. However setting targets where real wins can be achieved in bite-size chunks is a good way to build a foundation for the long term. And, don't forget to celebrate the wins along the way. Remember to have your celebration match the win. Little win little celebration. Big win, bigger celebration!
Call MainStream today and we'll be glad to share our thoughts with you on your change management plans.