A Change Leader’s Opinions and Rant about Implementing Change - Part 2

Almost 13 years back, I wrote in my article (well, ranted quite a bit as well!) about the #skills a change agent needs to build an organization's #acceptance of #continuousimprovement methodologies. 

To read part 1 of my article, please click here.

My article was well received back then and many of you commented on my article and wanted to hear me speak at a conference. Very Grateful for that. I have had the priviledge of speaking at many lean six sigma conference and universities.

Knowing what I know now, if I had the chance to go back in time and rewrite the article, I would add 2 more important skills (and perhaps rant a bit less... ha ha!!!)

1. #coaching

Coaching is not the same as mentoring, counselling, teaching or training.

‘Coaching involves developing a person’s skills and knowledge so that their job performance improves, hopefully leading to achievement of organizational objectives. It targets high performance and improvement at work, although it may have an impact on an individual’s private life. It usually lasts for a short period and focuses on skills and goals’

(Jarvis et al., 2006)

Coaching involves the belief that the individual has the answers to their own problems within them. As change leaders, and executive coaches, we need to develop in depth coaching skills and practice them. I have learned and applied many coaching models - both professionally and in my personal life. 

#advocacy has its own place and advantages, but when we are leading and implementing #organizationalchange , one of the coaching skills we must leverage on is #inquiry especially #appreciativeinquiry 

#socratic method of questioning is a core coaching skill, the technique of asking open ended questions and pulling the answers from the clients/coachees rather than quickly telling them what to do and solving the problems for them. 

In addition to balancing advocacy vs. inquiry and socratic method of questioning, I have been using David Grove's clean language methodology as well in my daily coaching sessions with my clients.

Clean Language is about trusting the other persons ability to solve their own problems, create their own strategies and desired outcomes. It is also about your actualizing a personal intention of holding others in both respect and as capable. More information about clean language in the link below.

Examples of clean language questions are below:

You can read more about it and learn how to coach leaders effectively using Jackie Arnold's book - "Coaching Skills for Leaders in the workplace".

2. In addition to #coaching , another important skill every change leader needs to learn about is #digitalization

The words Digitization, Automation and Digitalization tend to get used interchangeably, but there are some key differences that we need to be aware of.

Digitization is the conversion of analog information into texts, photographs, and voices, among others. 

Automation, as the term suggests, is the automatic execution of tasks without periodic interference. Automating a business process involves using technology to carry out repetitive tasks systematically. As a general rule, a process is considered automated if it was once handled manually but is now executed without human intervention. When it’s done right, automation can free up employees to focus on more pressing business or creative projects. 

Digitalization is “the use of digital technologies to change a business model and provide new revenue and value-producing opportunities; it is the process of moving to a digital business.”

Final Thoughts

To conclude, Lean and Six Sigma methodologies combined with Digitalization are powerful ways to improve and transform a company’s processes. The intent of the deployment leaders must be to improve all their company’s processes continuously and tirelessly keeping in mind always the end customer who receives the product/service and not just focus on impacting the bottom line of their P&L statements.

Thanks for taking the time to read part 2 of my article. Keen to hear your thoughts.

#change #leaders #power #language #respect #changereadiness #coachingskills

My original article published in 2009

You can click on the links below to learn more: