I sat on a video call a few years back with a former colleague. We talked about why change often fails to land. He used two words: build and adopt.
His explanation was that project teams build the thing and change managers help people adopt it. When put like that, it is simple.
That call reminded me of a project where the business called me in weeks after the new system went live. The build was done. The project team had moved on. But nobody was using the tool.
They called me to fix the adoption.
Starting that late is like being told to keep people off the grass after they have already worn a dirt path through it. The shortcut works for them. It has been proven right every day they used it to get the job done.
By the time I arrive with a "Keep Off" sign, I am starting my job as a nuisance blocking their way. It takes longer to prove the value of using the path.
I reflected on this and my years in the change field. I saw the lines between build and adopt are never clear. I also saw that there is a stage before both: analyse.
The analyse stage is about finding the problem before you build a fix. So now we have three stages. The work done in the stages before adoption helps make the transition smoother or bumpier.
For example: if you do not set your success measures during the analyse stage, you cannot prove the change worked later in the adoption phase.
I saw that the most successful changes I worked on were where I was around earlier in those stages. Or, other people had done the change work to set me up for success in the adoption phase.
Doing the change work in these stages prepares people to know they cannot walk on the grass. So when you start the adoption phase, people are not surprised the "Keep Off" sign is there.
This all led me to set out how these phases work with my Know-Learn-Grow to Change approach. Seeing the activities and where each sits in the Analyse, Build, and Adopt phases helps to see where you are working on change.
If you want to start defining where change activities should start in which stages then access the Free Changing with Confidence Mini Course.
If you want to learn more about how to support your people to build a change routine then grab Changing with Confidence or book a call with Adrian.
