Guess what?? I finished my book, and with the rest of life going on around me, I haven’t been as present as I like to be… I was both lost for words (read: bored of the sound of my own voice!) and then just tired, but we are back!
What do we know?
This has been both a personal lesson and a change management one. It’s about the about the need to be consistent yet the reality of how hard it can be (both in real life and in change). When we are moving ourselves or our people through change we need a drumbeat, a singular message and an experience that feels recognisable. We need to give consistency in what we say we are going to do and how that lands.
It goes back to when I was a kid and asked to do a comprehension test (I have no idea if these still exist, so if you have no idea – it was a story or bit of text that you would be asked to read and then answer a handful of questions on it) and the tactic I was taught read it once to read it, twice to understand it and three times to answer the question. The same lives on through our changes when we try and establish consistency: do it once to do it, do it twice to so people can see it and do it a third time so people can get it.
What can we do about it?
- Repetition is your friend: same messages, opportunities, forums shared across different mediums (Meetings, emails, posters and balloons 😉) build repetition into your plans and activities. It won’t take you twice the amount of time to do it twice, because you’ll re-use your content, improve your outcomes and become more efficient.
- Agree the rules of consistency: this is more for a closer project team, but it’s the same premise as do what you said you would do. This might be turn arounds of meeting notes, it could be showing up wearing a smile and the t-shirt. But knowing these ‘rules’ and in turn the expectations, you can be consistent by meeting them (and repeatedly doing so).
- Know when you can’t: there will be times when your ability to be consistent is up the wall, that’s cool. You are not a robot. But pretending that isn’t the case is harmful to you and your change. When you hit the wall -whether that’s literal capacity, head space or just time. Call it. Tell someone that you can’t ‘bring it’ this week. Nothing will fall off, you will probably be supported, work will go on without you and it will be there when you come back. But pretending you’re cool and trying to get away with it, is just bonkers and will make you feel rubbish. Lesson learnt.
Better Change?
Yeah. If you know what you’re up against, what’s needed and when to stop, it will be better. And if those around you know the same, it might even be good.