5.5 McKinsey on change management

The video here is quite short (8 minutes) but it contains a lot of important messages about why some change initiatives fail and others succeed. It is, given that McKinsey is a company that advises major business corporations, focused on the commercial world. The key messages, however, apply in the public service and not-for-profit sectors too - you might just have to map the ideas across.

The presenter, Mary Meaney, is a model of clarity. Go beyond the business examples and the Americanisms, and you will find an excellent summary of the key considerations in managing change.

Although she is talking about major organisational change, the elements listed here apply to any initiative that requires change:

1. Aspire - vision and strategy
2. Assess - capabilities and mindsets
3. Architect - why change? systems, skills and role modelling
4. Act - energy, momentum, confidence
5. Advance - grow leadership

While reviewing the video by Mary Meaney make your notes on the main aspects of organisational change and things you want to adopt for yourself and your organisation.

You can use the Stepping Into Leadership Course Workbook to record your thoughts.

Watching this through once won't be enough! For example, between 1:36 and 2:57 she encapsulates the importance of the vision and the story and how that sense of meaning (the WHY again!) can resonate at different levels.

There is a danger with all change management theories that we think there is a formula, a blueprint that, if followed, will guarantee success. The theories, when built on experience and from observation, can be very helpful but life is never that straightforward. Some things will always be less than perfect. Those can be the things, if we reflect on and learn from them, can make the next change even better.

This completes the course content. The next section asks you to summarise your thoughts and begin to make a personal action plan for your development as a leader.