FROM OUR CEO

Change Blocker 3: Smooth Sailing, or Another Change Fiasco?

December 14th, 2022 | From our CEO

If you are embarking on a change programs, then two groups determine your success more than any other group in the organization. So much that their lack of support is in fact one of the dominant blockers of change.

What we in Innovisor call the Six Change Blockers.

The two groups are:

• THE LEADERS– this is hopefully not a surprise to anyone, who has worked with change. It is, however, rare that they feel fully informed and positively onboard with a change as a group.
• THE INFORMAL CATALYSTS (the 3% that shape the commitment of their colleagues) – this is maybe more surprising. Just not, if you have followed Innovisor over the years.

When you know who is sitting in those two groups, you also need to know, how both groups feel about your upcoming change.

Are your key stakeholders positive, negative, or somehow undecided? – Their perception of the change is so important that I often refer to them as early warning signals.

If both groups are positive, you can expect smooth sailing.

If they are negative, you can expect yet another change fiasco. Like the ones you read about in case studies at the university – I wrote a 15 page one for my Executive MBA Change Management Elective – or in stories on Social Media. There is only thing to do. STOP!!! – and re-group.

If only one of the groups are positive, then it is time for you as a change leader to work in the trenches.

Do you know, how your key stakeholders feel about your change?

Read more about the Six Change Blockers in our CEO Jeppe Hansgaard’s upcoming book ‘Change is Gridlocked! Now What?’.