Talking Change with Jen and Rebecca

The final conversation in the Planning and Managing Conversations! Did we achieve what we set out to do - that is the focus of this conversation. Rebecca and I talk about when to have it, with whom, and some which conversations to revisit to create your success measures. 

Enjoy! 

IMPROVE YOUR CHANGE GAME

The purpose of the is conversation is to manage the activities, issues, and decisions involved in implementing your change, to alter course as needed, and to keep your key stakeholders and sponsors informed of progress. 

Learn some of the key questions and who to have involved in these discussions.

Change means you will need people to do something more, better, or different. The Performance Conversation will identify the skill gap from your current state to your new desired state, and it will help you create the reinforcement strategies needed to sustain the new skills and behaviours and realize the benefits of your change. 

And you'll learn a little bit about mimeographs in one of Jen's stories about change! 

This conversation doesn't happen enough during change, so tune in and find out the different factors to consider when engaging in the Performance Conversation to lead change successfully. 

Enjoy! 

IMPROVE YOUR CHANGE GAME

"Communication, especially during change, is everyone's responsibility" - Rebecca, a long-time communications professional, brings loads of insight to this conversation. Planning your communications during major (or even minor) change is a fluid process. In this podcast we dive into:

Are you creating the 'raindrop effect' on your people? This is when your employees get requests from many different groups and they don't know what should be prioritized. You need to have the Coordinate Your Asks Conversation to identify activities and requests from across your organization and prioritize what you will ask of your people - before you send out all the asks. 

This is a must-have conversation during any major change, so as not to overwhelm people with too many to dos, but it's also just good day-to-day business practice. 

This is your chance to create a Stakeholder Map! The Stakeholder Conversation - figuring out who is impacted and how - is so important during change, but remember, you need to have it more than once! Find out how to identify your stakeholder groups, how to check your assumptions, and whether or not you need every stakeholder group fully committed to make change happen. This conversation lays the groundwork for your communications and training so get out there and have it. Download your free Stakeholder Map Template at www.actionimpactmovement.com/resources.

IMPROVE YOUR CHANGE GAME

It was Throwback Thursday in this episode as Rebecca and I welcomed our special guest - Grandma Brenda (aka our mom). We delved into what leading change was like during her career that spanned the 70s - 2000s and learned some key lessons that are still applicable today. It was fun to have her on the podcast and hear her great insights about leading people through change! 

Beki and I often ask ourselves 'WWGBD?' (What would Grandma Brenda do?) - and now we have her leading change wisdom to add to the many other lessons we've learned from her over the years. 

Thanks Mom! 

Enjoy! 

IMPROVE YOUR CHANGE GAME

What is the magnitude of change you are implementing? And is your organization (i.e., your people) ready for it? 

In this episode Rebecca and Jen dive into the questions to ask to assess the situation as you embark on change - and there just may be a reference to Jersey Shore. 

The maturity level of your organization (e.g., how long your systems or processes have been in place), the number of people affected, the degree of behaviour change expected, the resources available, and your track record of past change implementations will all impact future change efforts. 

The Situation Conversation uncovers the magnitude and readiness of your organization and your people to accept and integrate changes successfully. 

IMPROVE YOUR CHANGE GAME

Now that you know WHY you are changing, next up is to figure out WHAT, WHEN, and HOW you will make the change. This is definitely a conversation you will have one more time with feeling, with different groups. 

Two key points in this conversation:

1. Decide what need to change by looking at the different business results you want.
2. Technology should not drive process - even though we know technology is more interesting than process mapping - start with your process mapping to figure out what you do now that is driving your current business results.

We dive into those key points and all the questions you need to ask for figure out what to change, when it makes the most sense to change within your business cycle, how to make the change - from who's involved to what to pilot, and how you will fund this exciting adventure. 

This is a big conversation! Let's get started! 

IMPROVE YOUR CHANGE GAME

Why are we changing? And why now? Two very important questions to answer as you embark on a change in your organization. In this episode Jen and Rebecca dive into one of the first conversations needed to lead change successfully. For those instigating the change, this conversation (likely to be had many times) helps them move through their transition to adopt and then lead change. The Why Conversation is a chance to brainstorm ideas, wrestle with ideas, debate, and decide on why things need to be different. 

For those impacted the by the change, this conversation is a chance to understand why change is happening now and buy into the reason(s) it's happening. 

There are lots of questions to consider when having the Why Conversation - and they can be the same questions whether it's a chosen or imposed change. Listen to the podcast to hear them all and a few real-life examples along the way. 

IMPROVE YOUR CHANGE GAME

In this conversation I mention Timbits - so it must be a good one! (Timbits are mini donut holes from Tim Horton's for those unfamiliar with the term). This is the last conversation in the Engagement Conversations section of Talking Change: Must-Have Conversations for Successful Leaders. But this doesn't mean change is over and it certainly doesn't mean you should only have this conversation once. 

Celebrating progress and wins - big or small - and saying thank you keeps people motivated to keep going, even when times are tough. People like to be appreciated, the questions in this conversation will help you think about what people have contributed and how you can celebrate those contributions in a way that will have the most meaning for them. 

Thank you for listening! Rebecca and I are truly enjoying these conversations and hope you are as well! 

IMPROVE YOUR CHANGE GAME

How often do we take the time to think about what's working and not working - and then actually change things? The Lessons Learned Conversation will do just that. Reflecting on what you're learning during a change is key to successful implementation. Course corrections will be needed - big or small - and giving people the opportunity to stop and think about what they are doing and learning also gives them permission to make adjustments for greater success. 

This conversation is fairly straight forward - What's working? What's not? What will we do differently going forward? Sounds a bit like The Coaching Conversation! 

And don't forget to document your lessons learned, and most importantly go back and read them so you don't make the same mistakes twice - or better yet, so you can repeat the things that work great!

IMPROVE YOUR CHANGE GAME

This is the conversation many people want to have but they are too scared to actually do it. You have people on your team who are not doing what you need them to do - they aren't working in the new way, they are actively resisting, they are impacting the rest of the team - and it's time to do something about it. Here is the playbook to prepare for and engage in this conversation.

People avoid this conversation because they assume it will be contentious and create conflict - something most people prefer to avoid. The key is to prepare for it then not make assumptions about how it's going to go. Jen's questions and structure, coupled with Rebecca's experience and insights from having these conversations over the years provide invaluable nuggets of wisdom right to the end of the podcast. 

A big lesson - have this conversation sooner rather than later. Putting it off creates more problems. You have high performers who are on board with your change and you need to spend time with them, so address your resistors by finding out 'Are you on board?'

IMPROVE YOUR CHANGE GAME

In order for people to do something more, better, or different - thus to make change - they need coaching. Engaging in a coaching conversation is the opportunity for people to learn through self-reflection, based on the questions that a coach will ask. Three simple questions will set up a great coaching conversation - listen in to this episode to hear Jen and Rebecca outline these three questions and other powerful questions that will get to the heart of challenges and opportunities and help people deepen their learning and take action to improve their performance. Anyone can coach - you'll find out how in this podcast so you can start (or continue) coaching today!

IMPROVE YOUR CHANGE GAME

One of my favourites! This is the chance to gather useful information from your teams, employees, and even customers about what makes sense to stop, start, and continue and what needs to take priority to deliver on your most important activities. Take this conversation to the plant floor, the boardroom, or the field office. People know the activities that add value and the ones that don't - ask them! This is a conversation that will help combat workplace stress, fatigue, and burnout. Rebecca and I talk about how to have the conversation - different ways to structure it and where to have it, what some of the tricky parts might be, and how this conversation can improve the decision making skills of your team members. 

IMPROVE YOUR CHANGE GAME

You’ve seen this movie before, so why will it be different this time? The Change Track Record Conversation helps teams and organizations identify what has worked or not in past changes and provides the clues to what you can do more, better, or differently to ensure success this time. Having this conversation in a group is really interesting – you realize that everyone has a different perspective on the same changes that have happened over the years. 

Listen in to learn why and how to have this conversation – another great one to engage team members to embrace change and lead better. We talk through the key questions to ask, effective ways to lead this conversation, and provide examples of what we’ve seen while facilitating this conversation. 

Knowing what baggage people are bringing to the next change will help you navigate a path forward and aim to change the ending to the movie! 

Enjoy! 

IMPROVE YOUR CHANGE GAME

How will change affect me? How will change affect our team? What am I going to lose or gain during this change? Whether it's new technology, new team members, or a change in culture, considering the impact is the first step towards buy-in of what will be different. The Impact Conversation uncovers people's perceptions and perspectives of what will be different. Jen and Rebecca bring examples and stories to this podcast on how to have the conversation, the learnings they've discovered when having these conversations, and the next steps needed to move individuals, teams, and organizations forward. 

IMPROVE YOUR CHANGE GAME

Do you know what people have actually heard about changes that have been announced? Do you know how they feel about the changes? Do you know what their reactions or questions are? 

The Debrief Conversation will answer these questions and more. Rebecca and I discuss the fact that we have both spent years crafting, wordsmithing, and disseminating communications about changes in various ways - yet when you ask people what they know you get answers ranging from nothing to completely inaccurate rumours! Wouldn't it be great to know what people know, feel, and think? Of course - so go and have the Debrief Conversation - we'll tell you how in this podcast. Enjoy! 

IMPROVE YOUR CHANGE GAME

Everyone is feeling it right now - Change Fatigue. What is it and why does it happen? In this episode Jen and Rebecca talk about how to address change fatigue by having the Coordinate Your Asks Conversation. Do you know all the things your employees are being asked to do? Does your management team consult each other before they land their requests on the organization? 

Change is not just the initiatives with project plans – new team members, transitioning to working remotely, team members leaving, or external regulation changes all impact your team members at the same time as the initiatives with project plans. Are your asks coordinated? 

Your past experience with change has a large impact on how willing you are to make new changes. In this episode Jen and Rebecca explore the Personal Change Journey questions and discover patterns in their reactions to change - whether that change has been chosen or imposed - then generate ideas to better lead and manage change in the future.