Seven Things to Take Into Account in Leading Change

The primary role of a leader is to speak for what isn't, not about what is. Or, said another way, a leaders role is to speak for a future he/she is committed to that is not going to happen anyway. Leaders bring futures into existence by speaking possibilities and then by enrolling and mobilizing their organization to make the possible future they envision real.

Seven things for leaders to take into account in leading change:

1. The organizational bias is to work inside the status quo – we've always done it this way is deeply embedded and will thwart change if not confronted
2. Demonstrate your commitment to change is real – find a symbolic change that will signal intentionality – handle a persistent complaint, change a rule or a policy, slaughter a sacred cow. Make sure people get your commitment is not a passing fancy
3. Create space for experiments, for failures – make setbacks the evidence of having tried something new, not the evidence of having done something wrong. Reward trying as much as succeeding
4. Create a network of support – mentors, coaches, trainers and buddies – so there are people to help with setbacks, difficult problems and the host of new unknowns that come with taking on something we've never done before
5. Create practices, processes, procedures and protocols so that progress can be measured, new learning is being generated, and can be replicated and shared around the organization – and, remember to dismantle those practices, procedures... that don't serve the new future
6. Make not knowing safe – causing change requires a healthy relationship with not knowing. Ignorance management needs even more attention than knowledge management. As Peter Drucker put it, "Great managers find the answers, great leaders find the right questions" and implicitly, questions for which we do not yet have the answer
7. Acknowledge and celebrate – look for the heroes, the bold tries, expressions of courage, risk taking and in doing so keep reminding people of the mission, the purpose the ultimate outcome that their efforts are helping to bring into existence.