In our experience as both consultants and as business leaders, the key to success in complex change programmes isn’t new technology, or a brilliant strategy – albeit both are important. It’s people.
We believe that people-based organisations need to follow a different path – a structured change process which puts people at the centre. Our method is based on a few simple beliefs that define what we call “people-based change”
Integrate ‘delivery’ from the start
Strategy is about ‘how’ not just ‘what’, change cannot be an afterthought
Align the agenda with individual’s goals and capabilities
Change only happens when people want it to happen
Give those most affected real agency in the change process
The teams that will live with the outcome need to help create the future
Tailor the approach to the culture and capabilities of the organisation
No project plan or agile sprint has ever delivered people change
To define a practical people-based change process, we have broken change delivery into four key elements, which we call GEMA
Establishing GOALS that resonate with the underlying objectives and needs of everyone involved in the change – the stakeholders – from the CEO to the shop floor
Creating an ENVIRONMENT that gives all stakeholder groups the confidence that there is the capability, commitment and governance to deliver the goals
Describing a MODEL that makes the change journey credible and brings it to life, explaining how the change will happen and what this means for the people in the organisation
Building an APPROACH which aligns to the capabilities and culture of the organisation and ensures those most impacted by the change are able to actively lead it