Change really is challenging!
My challenge
At this time of year I spend some time reviewing how I did against my New Years resolutions from the start of the previous year. As a business transformation specialist it is my job to persuade my clients to adopt new ways of working. Therefore every year I set myself the target of changing one aspect of how I work so I can feel their pain and hopefully be more empathetic when they face change.
Paperless working
This year I committed to becoming ‘paperless’. In practice this has meant not printing out documents, not keeping lots of paper records, scanning documents and storing them electronically (no more photocopying) and the hardest of all, be rigorous about shredding any paper as soon as I have the necessary information.
As I have been changing I have noticed others reactions to my change. In meetings and presentations I now take all of my notes on my iPad. For some this is normal but others have been nervous, wondering if I am paying attention or am really checking my emails. Their scrutiny has sometimes felt uncomfortable and made me question my new ways of working. To overcome these doubts I have had to explain why I now take notes electronically and the benefits I am hoping for. This eliminates concerns and the interest other show in my idea builds my confidence.
Lesson — give people information
So if we are asking people to change we need to give them the information to have these kinds of conversations. I originated this change so I know the background, the intended outcome and the expected benefits. Anyone involved in our change initiatives needs to be given the same information so they can tackle the queries, and scepticism of others. Failure to help them risks them giving up and returning to old ways of working.
No change is 100%
None of this has come naturally. I like to take stacks of papers to meetings because it makes me feel prepared for any questions. I like filing because I know I can always check information. So learning a new, on-screen way of working has been hard.
An important lesson is that change is rarely 100% and I have needed to have the odd exception to make the rest of my paperless system work. In my case, the exception has been keeping and still updating a paper folder of useful change management articles. My clients expect me to be well read and up to date with my knowledge and some articles are so useful I adapt their advice into my chance plans.
The paper version of this file has allowed me an important break from screen time. It has enabled me to retain an important ritual which is to have a cup of tea and a read through of favourite articles when I am trying to solve a difficult problem.
Lesson — let people adapt the change
So when we are leading change initiatives perhaps remember that adaption by those who have to change is important. My folder of articles doesn’t diminish my move to paperless working and 90% is better than nothing. Letting people find their dividing line between how much they can change and when change makes them less productive is a critical success factor.
