Before embarking on any new change initiative (whether a small “tweak” or a big shift), it’s vital to have a clear and well-defined strategy.
The Stoic, Seneca, once famously said, “If a man knows not to which port he sails, no wind is favorable.”
Your strategy, when intentionally identified and operationally aligned, will serve as your guiding light, your North Star, your roadmap, your GPS. Without it, you’re driving in the dark…and can very easily find yourself off-course and sometimes totally lost.
Ever been on your own road to change and encountered something similar? Or, want to ensure that when you DO finally pull the trigger on that new “vehicle” of progress in your business (e.g., a new technology, a new operational process or realignment, a merger, etc.), you don’t end up in a completely different location, having run out of gas, or finding yourself in a ditch?
Then design your P.A.T.H. to greater change success, starting with Preparation and strategy.
Strategy? Tactics? Stractics?
If you start working on a new change initiative without proper preparation, you’re most likely setting up your organization and team for delays, distractions, disruptions, and a lot of unnecessary debt (budget, resources, time, emotional labor). An upfront, intentional, and contextually relevant strategic planning effort can save you significant headaches down the line.
But, before we go any further, let’s clarify what strategy IS and what it ISN’T, and what I mean by “planning”.
In Lewis Carroll’s book, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”, Alice has a rather curious conversation with the Cheshire Cat:
‘Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?’ [asked Alice.]
‘That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,’ said the [Chesire] Cat.
‘I don’t much care where—’ said Alice.
‘Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,’ said the Cat.
‘—so long as I get somewhere,’ Alice added as an explanation.
‘Oh, you’re sure to do that,’ said the Cat, ‘if you only walk long enough.’
The above is sometimes “reimagined” into the following sentiment, “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there”.
When approaching change initiatives, the “where are we going” plan and communication often look and sound something like “getting on this new system.” That is not a strategy; it is a tactic, an action, an outcome, a “somewhere”.
Yet, what your organization and team really need is a clear understanding of where you’re trying to go…and WHY. Without it, the P.A.T.H. to success will inevitably include scope creep, catastrophizing, resistance, traffic jams, constant re-routing, and very frustrated drivers and passengers (your project team, your change ambassadors, your stakeholders, and your implementation and solution partners).
Now, a Strategic Plan is NOT a:
- Project plan
- RACI
- Risk or Readiness assessment
- Change Board
- Steering Committee
- Change Ambassador Network
- Training plan
- Communication plan
- And yes, also NOT a Change Management plan
A Strategic Plan, instead, focuses on the purpose, the real reason and drivers behind the desire for “getting on a new system” (or whatever your destination may be). It serves as the compass for when roadside distractions, unplanned route closures, cranky drivers or passengers, and vehicle troubles emerge. It centers around clarifying your:
- Vision
- Benefits
- Impacts
- Success Measures
- And more
It’s less about the How and more about the Who, Where, and Why.
However you craft it, your strategy should be co-designed with leaders and employees to ensure everyone’s on board and moving in the same direction. Gathering feedback from your team isn’t just a box-ticking exercise; it’s crucial for creating a plan that people actually believe in and support.
Get the Word Out – Then Set on Repeat
Once your plan is done (hint: if done well, it shouldn’t take you more than a day to draft), it’s crucial to communicate it a lot…and as early as possible with your ENTIRE organization, starting at Phase Zero (the phase BEFORE you kick off your project).
Generating alignment and maintaining continual bi-directional communication can help alleviate stress, ensure project focus, and reduce resistance. Open and transparent feedback loops keep everyone informed and engaged. Remember, change isn’t just happening to your team; it’s happening with them.
By having a well-documented and organizationally communicated Strategic Plan, your project team and all impacted stakeholders can focus on your critical path goals, which allows you to avoid unnecessary complexities that can derail your project.
Stop to Stretch, Snack, and Celebrate
You can’t manage what you can’t measure, right? Setting clear metrics for success is critical. These should include both quantitative (numbers-driven) and qualitative (experience-driven) measures. It’s not just about getting to your destination; it’s about celebrating each mile to keep morale high, and the team focused on the critical path.
Strategy isn’t just about having a plan. It’s about creating alignment, setting clear goals, involving your stakeholders, and ensuring continuous communication. So, if you’re facing changes in your organization, start by crafting a clear strategy that focuses on the WHY, WHO, and WHERE, incorporates ongoing feedback, and makes everyone feel included. Keep those communication channels open, celebrate the small wins, and stay flexible. Change is hard, but with the right strategy, it’s certainly possible.
Have questions or want to dig a little deeper? Check out our Newbury Partners’ webinar series: Change Readiness Essentials
Amy Yackowski is the Founder and Chief Evolution Officer of Painted Porch Strategies, a stoically-based training and advisory team dedicated to the principle that there is untapped potential and opportunity in your leaders and teams to create meaningful, lasting transformation that sticks. With over 18 years of experience working in and alongside staffing organizations embarking on change, Amy and her amazing team offer training programs, workshops, coaching, and advisory centered on developing change-ready teams who can lead at the speed of change. Visit Painted Porches for more information, https://www.paintedporchstrategies.com/.
About Newbury Partners
Newbury Partners brings years of experience as technology advisors to the Staffing Industry. We specialize in providing tried and true best practice methodologies through every consulting, implementation, reporting and analytics, development, and strategy engagement. Our commitment to our clients is to provide honest and transparent communication to create lifelong partnerships.
For more information, visit www.newburypartners.com.
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