CHANGE MANAGEMENT
We work in organizations that need to adapt quickly to the new reality we live in. The speed of the Fourth Industrial Revolution forces us to adopt new processes and technologies faster than ever. Change is a constant variable in every job worldwide. In this context, having the PROSCI Change Management Practitioner certification is a key skill set to make any corporate initiative a success.
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In my career, I have applied the ADKAR model (Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, and Reinforcement) to manage individual and organizational change. This step-by-step methodology provides the right tools to ensure the change adoption. The program taught me valuable strategies to analyze the current situation and advise on different strategies and tactics to manage change.
You must first define the current and desired situation as a change management practitioner. What needs to happen to achieve the desired situation? Who needs to change? What needs to change? How do you define success? Using different tools, you define success, impact (impacted groups, adoption, usage), and approach (risks, resistances, resources, timelines).
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Once the baseline situation is clear, it is time to create and implement an adaptive plan that moves individuals and organizations through the change transition. This requires building an ADKAR blueprint and plans needed to take action. It is also critical to track the initiative's progress using different measurements. This is an essential step to adjust the plan if required. What adaptative measures are needed to keep driving change?
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Lastly, it is critical to sustaining change in the long term. This step requires identifying gaps and developing sustainable actions. For example, launching a sponsor-led communications reinforcement campaign to maintain behavioral change.
Change is part of our lives. Understanding the psychology behind change allows us to craft impactful solutions to help our colleagues to transition through change happily. The ADKAR model is a powerful tool to understand the main drivers of change and how to use them to your advantage.
Every knowledge management, learning, or talent development intervention requires change to be successful. Change is your main ally when you know how to manage it!