Monday 26 September 2022

How to Handle Mistakes


 This post's podcast episode is available at SounderApple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsStitcher 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

Own the mistake and how to correct it.


BY DOING THIS

–  Take accountability quickly.

–  Share steps to correct it and the help you need.

–  Detail what you learned and will do differently.


Mistakes are inevitable when managing change. There are too many moving pieces on different schedules and run by different people to avoid missteps.

Given the stress (and fear) that major change initiatives inevitably produces, people can default to responses that deflect ownership, compromise resolution, and obscure learning when something goes wrong. This behaviour often adds risk to the project and damages relationships. A better and more difficult approach is to expect and address mistakes as they appear.

Taking accountability for a mistake, especially in public, will set you apart. People will remember how calmly you handled the situation and soon will forget about the mistake. 

First, take ownership of the mistake. Next, state what you are doing to correct it. Talking about the solution focuses people on the path to correction vs. the actual mistake. Close off your comments by sharing what you learned and what you will do differently in the future.


KNOWLEDGE BITES



MISTAKE CORRECTION PLANNING TOOL: What are the steps I need to take to correct the mistake?



SUCCESS TIP

Don’t explain in detail why you did what you did. It’ll sound like you’re making excuses and take focus away from how you are fixing the mistake.

For more stories, insights and advice, listen to the Handling Mistakes podcast episode with executive and change leader Michelle Yanahan.

Phil Buckley is the author of Change on the Run and  Change with Confidence, host of the  Change on the Run Podcast, and co-creator of the  Sharing Change with Confidence Newsletter.

#change #changemanagement #transformation #leadership #projectmanagement #mistakes #podcasts 

Tuesday 6 September 2022

How to Compete for Resources

 

This post's podcast episode is available at SounderApple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsStitcher 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

Provide greater detail on the benefits of your project.


BY DOING THIS

–  Map each stakeholder’s benefits (internal and external).

–  Meet with each stakeholder to get examples.

–  Use quotes to build credibility for your pitch.

 

Most organizations take on change agendas that are larger than the resources available to implement them. Leaders struggle to prioritize multiple change initiatives because they all provide benefits, and generally there are differing views on which ones will deliver the most value. 

Most people starting a change project jump into planning without stepping back to assess the environment in which the change will take place. For example, if your change is launching at the same time as three other initiatives, odds are that the people you’re impacting will not have the capacity (time, skill and resources) to implement the plan as well as you’d like. Securing adequate resources to implement your plan is one of the most important negotiations you’ll have. 

Meet with each stakeholder to better understand the benefits they’ll get from your change. Greater detail backed by credible endorsements will make them more tangible and perhaps more valuable when compared to other projects, securing the resources you need.


KNOWLEDGE BITES




RESOURCE BUSINESS CASE BUILDER TOOL: Why should my project receive resources over others?



SUCCESS TIP

Quotes from people who have a stake in the change are personal and emotional—they are more convincing than the numbers.


For more stories, insights and advice, listen to the Competing for Resources podcast episode with executive and change leader Denis Kelly.

Phil Buckley is the author of Change on the Run and  Change with Confidence, host of the  Change on the Run Podcast, and co-creator of the  Sharing Change with Confidence Newsletter.

#change #changemanagement #transformation #leadership #projectmanagement #changesupport #podcasts