The gears of change

Change behaves like the free spinning cog at the center of the gear box. It will turn clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on where it gets its impulse from and how strong that impulse is. But it will not turn on its own, just as change won't happen on its own. The gear of change needs to be constantly driven so that change happens.

The 4 main drivers of change are :

Diagnosing What is your starting situation ? You need to know where you are if you want to be able to reach your destination.

Planning What will the transition look like ? Start by formulating a clear vision of the future, share it with all the stakeholders and plan the path towards that vision.

Communicating What, when and to whom do you need to communicate about the

change ? Develop a continuous, people-focused communication strategy, starting with the vision of the future that will help everyone understand where you are and why you need to abandon the status quo.

Training What do you know and what are you missing ? Equip all the stakeholders with the knowledge, skills and attitudes they will need to successfully adopt, implement and sustain the changes.

With these four engines driving the gear of change, the transition will be smooth and with the support of the whole organisation.