Making the Case for Organizational Change

CEO Samantha Glover explores how to lay the groundwork for organizational change, improving the chances of securing buy-in from those affected.

Key Takeaways: making a case for change

• Organizational change is inevitable. The world is constantly changing and organizations must adapt, too. What worked today won't necessarily work tomorrow.
• People don't like change. Understand what motivates people to get them to accept and come along with the change.
• Have a clear objective. Share a compelling vision of where the change will take you and connect the change to your organization's core values.
• Don't dictate. Listen to the views of stakeholders to understand where they're coming from. Iterate the change with their views in mind.
• Make the decision. Once you've decided to make a change, stick to your plan. If there's a clear vision and compelling reasons, don't doubt your resolve.

Let's Act: pave the way for change

Stakeholder management is one of the most crucial aspects of change. If you don't convince your team, employees or clients, then the change will fail.

So make this commitment today:

• Map out your affected stakeholders.

Who will the change impact? How will they feel about it? What would convince them to come along with you?

Write down your answers and use them to inform direction.

Explore more Mindtools resources on change management:

• Quiz: How Good Are Your Change Management Skills?
• Article: The Four Principles of Change Management
• Article: Lewin's Change Management Model