How to Measure Success During Change

This post's podcast episode is available at Sounder, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify.

When you are short of time, here is the one action that will give you 80 percent results in 20 percent of the time.

DO THIS

Choose three measures of success that leaders support.

BY DOING THIS

–       Identify three measures that can be evaluated with existing data.

–       Discuss these measures with leaders.

–       Replace any that aren’t supported with ones that have been suggested by leaders.

What you measure defines what success looks like. In a rush to get a project going, it’s easy to miss this important step, making it difficult to prove progress and achievements throughout the project.

Leaders only value the measures they believe are important. At best, the others receive polite silence. You need to focus on the ones they show interest in. Selecting three metrics is best because that provides enough data to tell a detailed story about the results, without overwhelming stakeholders with exhaustive—and less relevant— information. Beware the laundry list of metrics!

Present your chosen measures and your rationale for them to leaders, and be prepared to negotiate either the measures or how they’ll be measured. The more you engage leaders in the discussion, the greater the buy-in they’ll have for your approach to measurement. Reaching an agreement is the goal.

KNOWLEDGE BITES

SUCCESS MANAGEMENT PLANNER TOOL: Which measures will determine my success?

SUCCESS TIP

Using the same template to present every progress update communicates consistency and credibility.

To learn more about our post and podcast topics, check out the Change on the Run: 44 Ways to Survive Workplace Uncertainty book and audiobook at http://www.changeontherun.com or your favourite bookseller.

#change #changemanagement #transformation #leadership #coaching #podcasts 

How to Test A Leader's Thinking

 

This post's podcast episode is available at Sounder, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify.

When you are short of time, here is the one action that will give you 80 percent results in 20 percent of the time.

DO THIS

Play out a leader’s idea to reveal its implications.

BY DOING THIS

–       Say, “Let’s test it out.”

–       Walk through the steps and identify the positive and negative implications.

–       Ask, “Is this still your preferred choice?”

Leaders can get excited by ideas before they think through the implications on timelines, resources, or other requirements for success. Their desire to solve one problem can unintentionally create new ones. 

The greater a leader’s enthusiasm for his or her solution, the more difficult it is to influence their thinking. Before they jump into action mode, test out their idea to assess its merit. A better one may exist. 

Leaders are more likely to accept the assessment of their ideas if they do it themselves. Your role is to walk them through the implementation steps and identify implications. You can then weigh the pros and cons of their ideas with others. Even if the leader’s option isn’t the best and they go with it, you both know the pitfalls.

KNOWLEDGE BITES

DECISION-MAKING ASSESSMENT TOOL: How will I facilitate the assessment of options?

SUCCESS TIP

An informal in-person assessment is best because it feels like there is less at stake, which reduces the need to be right.

To learn more about our post and podcast topics, check out the Change on the Run: 44 Ways to Survive Workplace Uncertainty book and audiobook at http://www.changeontherun.com or your favourite bookseller.

#change #changemanagement #transformation #leadership #coaching #podcasts