Don't let them trivialise the change

If there’s one thing that irks me as much as the ‘change is just comms and training’ mantra, it’s this:

It’s only a small tech or process change, it won’t really impact people.

STOP!

Change practitioners - you can stop this organisational myth before it grows its own post code!

Almost every change in an organisation impacts people. If they need to DO SOMETHING differently, THINK differently or BEHAVE differently, it’s a PEOPLE change.

And for PEOPLE-related changes, a change impact assessment, at some level, is needed to understand the full scope of the effects and what is needed to help the change land successfully.

Carrying out a Change Impact Assessment (CIA) is a skill you don’t have the time to work out as you go, especially as change professionals are expected to hit the ground running.

Yet, in organisations here’s what is often missing for you to help you: Information on:

• How to get started with early engagement conversations

• Training or guidelines on how to carry out a CIA

• Consistent descriptions on impact types and impact levels

• Knowledge management systems that capture good examples of previously carried out CIAs

Don’t let your project managers or line managers trivialise the impact of the change on people, or the need to carry out a CIA. Some may tell you it’s not needed, or the change is too small to warrant the effort. But, the fastest way to adoption is to support people through all types of change. And clues to support and meaningful change activity are uncovered by the CIA.

We have all this covered on impact assessments in our #changehacks online microcredential – Change Impact Assessments – from  how to sell the benefits to the skeptic to making you a CIA Superstar so you can add immediate value.

It's time for you to shine!

Check out the program here - Impact Assessments | Change Hacks