A Formula For Change
“Every organization is perfectly designed to get the results it's currently getting.”
This is one of my favorite quotes. When I share this with groups, it typically gets a chuckle. It resonates with folks because they recognize the simple accuracy of that statement. And the difficulty of actually making a change for better results.
Why can it feel so hard to change?
Our vision and desire for something better have to outweigh the perceived stability and safety of what is. And, then we need to know the first steps to take.
Or put another way, we need to give attention to the parts of a change formula*:
(Vision X Dissatisfaction) + First Steps > Resistance = Change
or
(V X D) + FS = C
When organizations aren’t changing, even if they desire different results, the “resistance” factor is greater than the combination of vision, dissatisfaction, and next steps.
For change to be a possibility BOTH vision and dissatisfaction are necessary. They are multipliers. Vision with no real discontent about present reality doesn’t do much to inspire change. Likewise, dissatisfaction with a current state and no better or future vision leads to frustration and feeling stuck.
And lastly, we need clear next steps to be able to make the change. We can have a great vision that aligns with our discontent with the status quo. But if we don’t have a clear path for the next action, again, we are stuck.
So here are some questions to help you think through your change equation to get unstuck:
VISION: Do you have a vision of the different results you want? Is it clear? Compelling?
DISSATISFACTION: Why can’t your organization stay as is? What’s at stake if you don’t change?
FIRST STEPS: If you were motivated to change, are you clear on the first three steps to change?
RESISTANCE: What is causing the friction to change? People, culture, fear, grief?
How can you make the combination of vision, dissatisfaction with the status quo, and clear first steps greater than the resistance to change you face?
If you know you want to make a change but aren’t sure how, we’d love talk with you and explore how to overcome the resistance or friction you are experiencing and make impactful change.
* I came across this formula in The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership. It was created by Richard Beckhard and David Gleicher, and adapted Kathie Dannemiller.