Change Management and AI: Fonty's "Herd Wisdom"

We asked AI to do more than just plan a change project – instead, we invited it to collaborate in a creative way: to envision change, think creatively, and apply our psychological principles of leadership and implementation.

Read on for creative applications of traditional change techniques, and how you can use AI to envision breakthrough change!

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Hello, Change Leaders!

Fonty here! Rachana and I recently launched The Change Herd model, which adds key psychological motivations to traditional change management tools.

We wanted to first understand if our AI-powered GPT was able to understand the model, so we asked it to give a summary of its understanding of this slide deck.

What AI Said

Here’s what the AI came up with – spoiler, this is the best summary we have seen (even including our own!):

Traditional Change Management Focus:

Traditional change management primarily emphasizes structural aspects such as vision, communication, training, stakeholder networks, and leadership. This approach often deals with the organization's hierarchical and procedural adaptations, focusing heavily on top-down strategies to implement changes .

Focus of "The Change Herd" Model:

"The Change Herd" Model also covers similar elements as traditional change management such as vision and leadership, but introduces a more dynamic approach by motivating from within, co-creating change, and developing others through change. It significantly differs by emphasizing grassroots inspiration and information dissemination, aiming for a more inclusive and participatory change process. This model represents a shift from the classic top-down approach to a more holistic and human-centric approach.

Case Studies Using "The Change Herd" Model

We then wanted to understand the AI GPT's ability to practically apply & implement the model.

So, we asked it to create 3 case studies. The “Fonty twist” is that we asked it to imagine three hypothetical companies, that were animal-themed, in NYC, and went through a change process.

Here’s the output from FontyGPT, and our reflections after the jump!

1. MetroMane Transit Solutions

Company Overview: MetroMane operates a fleet of taxis driven by various animal characters around the boroughs of NYC, ensuring safe and comfortable transport for all species.

Change Implemented: Transition from traditional taxi services to app-based booking to enhance operational efficiency and customer convenience.

Tools/Techniques Used:

• Grassroots Inspiration: Introduced by a tech-savvy squirrel, app-based booking was first piloted by volunteer drivers to gain traction among staff.
• Co-Creation of Change: Drivers and customers co-developed app features in hackathons, making the transition smoother and more inclusive.
• Development Through Change: Ongoing workshops and feedback sessions helped drivers adapt to new technology, enhancing their professional development.

2. Beak & Bagel Deli

Company Overview: A deli that caters to NYC's birds, offering a variety of seeds and bagels, located in Central Park's vicinity.

Change Implemented: Shifted from single-use plastics to a sustainable packaging solution to reduce environmental impact.

Tools/Techniques Used:

• Vision Casting: Used the story of a heroic pigeon who saves the park from pollution to create a compelling vision for change.
• Engagement Through Storytelling: Regular "Fly-In" sessions where employees shared personal stories about the impact of pollution on their nests and habitats.
• Empowering Local Change Agents: Established a "Green Wing Team" of employee volunteers who led the campaign and educated their peers on sustainability practices.

3. Paws & Reflect Spa

Company Overview: A luxury spa and wellness center for dogs and cats in downtown Manhattan, focusing on holistic pet health.

Change Implemented: Introduction of a new digital service to track pet health and wellness trends, offering customized treatments.

Tools/Techniques Used:

• Motivating From Within: Inspired by a cat therapist's idea, the digital service was conceptualized to improve pets' well-being.
• Inclusive Decision-Making: Pets and their owners were involved in beta testing the service, providing feedback that shaped the final product.
• Development Workshops: Conducted technology training sessions for staff, ensuring they are comfortable using the new digital tools and can explain benefits to pet owners.

Fonty’s Tusk-ful Takeaway: AI and Change

By using AI to do more than just plan a change project, but rather, inviting it to collaborate in a far more creative way (imagining animal-owned businesses, what change they'd undergo, and how to apply our Change Herd model), we were able to test its ability to guide change in a much more profound way.

Here’s what we observed:

• AI listened to our prompt, and was able to imagine animals leading the various companies and their impact, in NYC
• AI was able to envision a change, starting with a successful outcome, and work its way backward on tactics and ideas
• AI gave us clear change interventions, drawing from all 4 levers of the Change Herd model
• All solutions proposed can be used in real corporate change, even if framed here through animal metaphors!
• AI was able to imagine companies from various perspectives; animal founders were both  “free-roaming, city-dwellers” (like me, Fonty!), and also as pets to humans

What this means for you:

We hope this gives you an insight to how much AI can help as a third party partner to design, implement and measure change.

The earlier you bring in AI, the more you can use it to be imaginative, break boundaries ("Beak and Bagel" is now our favorite bagel shop!) and develop strategies that work for you.

Don't forget to take our "Change Herd" quiz, to find out what change leadership style you have! Did any of the techniques AI suggested resonate with your style?

To breakthrough change,

Fonty and Rachana