After spending nearly 15 years working in change environments, from the boardrooms of PwC to village meetings under a banyan tree, here are my 4 tips which really helped me make change happen:
#1 – GET PRESENT
Stop, breathe and genuinely be with the person in front of you. Make eye contact. I’m still surprised by how very few people bring a sense of presence to their clients, leaving them often feeling unheard or misunderstood. With so much busy-ness in consulting engagements, it’s worth bringing some stillness to your client conversations. #mindfulness
#2 – STEP INTO THEIR SHOES
Once you’ve started to build rapport, express a genuine interest into what it must be like to be in their world – from their worries, fears and anxieties to their joys and passions. Be mindful though – this can involve ‘stepping out of our own shoes’; our own biases, beliefs and judgements which often act as limiting filters. #EQ #EmotionalIntelligence
#3 – EMPOWERMENT
One thing I have realised for sure is that people don’t like change being done to them, rather they want to be in the driving seat. If you can empower a person to not only participate in but feel they have the skills and capabilities drive and own the change, then you will truly make change stick. #ChangeChampions #ChangeLeaders
#4 – BABY STEPS
Make it super easy for people to take action! Give them handy resources, basic action steps and simple instructions which can be consumed in seconds. Quick wins always energise teams – so make it a point to celebrate early successes to encourage late adopters! #ResourcesNotCourses
Would love to get your thoughts… drop a comment below if you can relate to these or have other tips from your experience!
