Jennifer Frahm // Change. Coach. Create. Communicate
I maintain two posterous sites: jenfrahm is my personal perspective, and convochange is a capture of the professional aspects.
I also blog at http://jenniferfrahmcollaborations.x.iabc.com
Who is your change sponsor?
A change sponsor should be some-one who is high enough to clear the way for you when the hurdles become political.They need to have 'skin in the game'.
Have you got the right person in that role?
Change resistance is a catch all term to cover a huge range of
normal behaviours exhibited in change.People don't resist change, they experience fear, anxiety,
uncertainty, disbelief, cynicism, and doubt.Don't expect a catch all solution to overcoming resistance
How do you create some stability in a time of change?
Most people crave some stability in the form of reassurance or information during organisational change.
Frequent and small conversations will help.
But so will communicating what stays the same.
Be the change you wish to see -- Mahatma Gandhi
Nothing stops a culture change quicker than a change leader not enacting the new behaviours.
Is it time for a personal audit of values and behaviours?
When you engage with resistance to change, you receive valuable feedback on how well your program is progressing.
Be appreciative of the feedback - it's the silence you need to be worried about.
Change Agents...
How many change agents do you need?
Politics is the exercise of power and necessary in achieving your change goals.
What are your sources of power?
What are you lacking?
Where can you get it?
Last weekend Kelly Quinn and I headed up to the lovely lush leafy surrounds of Maleny and the Farmhouse of Whispering Valley to host another Conversation of Change Retreat. The participants started with a 6 word challenge (modelled on the Hemingway story in 6 words challenge). They were asked to express their particular change challenge in six words. We got:
[NB - OK, this participant was very economical with the challenge and saved an extra word for the next part]
At the end of the two days of dedicated focus on workplace and career challenges, I asked the participants to use the 6 word challenge to summarise the outcomes of the retreat. We got:
Once again, a really rewarding weekend, great new connections, inspiring and stimulating discussion. I really want to see 50 participants through the program by the end of the year. This is going to mean another 8 - 10 retreats with 4-5 participants. Let me know if you want to be one of them.
