PrimeFocus™ Mini-Assessment: Complete the Self-Assessment
Change-Readiness Indicator: Complete the Assessment
Author: Primeast
Date: 03/04/2017
Realization that change is the only constant is an imperative in strategic business planning. All successful, market-leading companies have embraced the need to change. The most successful seem stable, but are in a constant state of flux:
While these examples are at the extreme end of change, they serve to show that transformational change management is an essential for organizational longevity. The question is, how do you begin to develop a strategy to accelerate the change process?
In this article, you’ll learn how to jumpstart your change acceleration process. You’ll discover how to assess the change needed, and uncover the roadblocks that could cause your change efforts to grind to a halt.
Unless you identify the changes that your organisation needs to make, it will be impossible to create the vision and sense of urgency required to change at pace. The vision will provide the focal point for change. It is the destination that your organization plans to reach. Urgency creates the impetus to drive the organization forward.
Identifying where your organization needs to get to is a task which shouldn’t be underestimated. It’s also the first opportunity to instil a culture of change across your organization. It provides the window to test organizational readiness for change, and get everyone involved in the process of accelerated change. You’ll need to answer key questions which will help shape your business strategy:
A strategic approach to identifying your vision is essential. You’ll be attempting to predict your customers’ needs and your competitors’ positioning months and years from now. You’ll also need to look inside your own organization to identify if your people, organizational structure, beliefs and values are prepared for fast-track transformational change.
A SWOT analysis enables identification of your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.
Internally, identify your strengths and weaknesses. Your strengths are the fuel that provides the energy for change. Weaknesses could hold you back. Examine:
Externally, you’ll find both opportunities and threats. For example:
A SWOT analysis seeks to answer a wide range of deep questions. These questions should be asked of individuals, teams and organizations. They will help to identify what needs to change, why it needs to change, and how change can be best planned.
Here are twenty questions as a starting point for your SWOT analysis:
During the SWOT analysis, it’s likely that you’ll discover barriers that could bring your transformational change to a standstill. By identifying these early, you’ll be able to create a flexible strategy to keep your ambitions on track. Such barriers include:
With this understanding, you will be able to tackle these roadblocks and create strategies to overcome resistance to change in the workplace.
SWOT analysis is an essential business tool for transformational change management. It generates engagement and urgency, and informs vision. It is this vision that will keep your people focused on the prize. Make it so that your vision can be communicated in a couple of powerful sentences. The easier it is to communicate your vision, the easier it is for others to buy into it.
To accelerate the change process and create a compelling vision, use a SWOT analysis. This will help you:
To discover how a Change Agent Bootcamp and coaching in consulting and facilitating will help to encourage employee engagement, contact Primeast today.
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