The Nine Elements of Change Power

How well we can identify, manage and adapt to the changing world around us will determine our success. Helping our clients and business associates do the same can increase our value exponentially as we strive to be a source of business intelligence and guidance for our clients and prospects.

In a recent article in Harvard Business Review, How Good Is Your Company At Change?, they identify the nine elements of change power. These nine traits and abilities help companies excel at change. The key is to identify your strengths and weaknesses in these categories, and as business consultants, help our clients do the same. Our capacity for change leads to greater success, less stress, less frustration and an adaptability to the market that will help us to continue to be leaders:

Purpose - Creates a sense of belonging; it guides decisions and inspires action

Direction - Translates your purpose into a plan; it clarifies where you are going and how to get there

Connection - Taps into the social side of change; it creates networks of influencers and fans

Capacity - Defines the limits of change; it allows you to absorb more change

Choreography - Helps you be more dynamic; it adjusts change priorities and sequences moves

Scaling - Creates a virtuous cycle; it spreads innovation and amplifies impact Development - Prepares you for growth; it builds learning and change capability

Action - Builds momentum; it fosters a can-do mindset and a bias for change

Flexibility - Helps you stay in front of change; it redefines how you work and even what work is

We always suggest that true and meaningful change starts with clearly and specifically identifying where you are presently. You can’t move forward unless you know where you’re starting. This could make a great sales meeting, team meeting, etc. Have your team members grade your company on each of the nine elements. The cumulative scores will not only give you a baseline for how effectively your company deals with change, but it can also provide a blueprint for areas of improvement.

The Harvard research revealed that companies that score in the top half grow revenue up to three times faster than companies in the same industry who rank at the bottom. In addition, companies that rank higher on these traits tend to have leaders and cultures that rate significantly higher in the eyes of their employees than those in the bottom quartile, and they have employees who feel more inspired and engaged.

What kind of company are you? Asking these questions will make an engaging meeting and a more promising future.

Jeff Schmidt is SVP-Professional Development at the Radio Advertising Bureau. You can reach Jeff at jeff.Schmidt@Rab.com or follow him on social media: Twitter, LinkedIn.