For two years in a row, my fellow Organization Change Alliance colleague Jeff Lebow has provided feedback as I designed exercises for the presentations I gave to the group. Both times, he asked a remarkable question: “How can you help people succeed?”
Whenever it is possible for someone to make an error, someone will. Wherever there is an opportunity for confusion, someone will be confused. Wherever someone can get stuck, someone will get stuck. Anyone who is confused or makes an error or gets stuck will naturally become frustrated and disillusioned with the task at hand.
As you design the change initiative, consider that no one else in the organization is as familiar with it as you are. It is easy to make assumptions that people will know what to do without detailed instructions or examples. Take a step back and determine where people might need a little extra help to succeed.
How might you help people succeed?
Read more of the 99 Ways to Influence Change.