As the business leader of any organization, it is essential to have a clear picture of what is really going on before you make any plans for change. People trust those who have credibility; all it takes is one fabricated story or inaccurate information to lose that credibility. A false start in projects can have significant damage to your reputation, so it’s important to get off on the right foot.
What Is a False Start?
A false start typically refers to a project that gets off on the wrong foot due to poor planning or an organization not being ready for change. If a project starts out with no clearly defined goals, tasks, timelines, and contingencies in place, there’s a good chance it will lead nowhere. Therefore, it’s vital for business leaders to plan ahead and set realistic expectations for every initiative they embark upon.
Getting the Right Information
The key is getting the right information from the people who are actually doing the work. Never assume you know how things are being done or because you used to do that job you know how things get done; you have to ask the people doing the job how they do what they do and why, if we want to correct manual workarounds. This may involve managing up and having uncomfortable conversations but understanding how everything works in order and benefits each other will help ensure success when implementing changes. You want to ask questions and not correct anyone.
Document Your Findings
As you gather this valuable information you want to ensure you document it as it comes to you without tampering with it prior to saving it. Capture the raw information as save it in its natural state it will be very valuable when you begin your people, process and technology mitigation. Capturing and storing this information will also help you measure your success from where you are to where you want to be. We will suggest process mapping as it is the most accurate documentation of current state activities there is in business outside of cameras.
Leading Change with Confidence
Once you have gathered this data and understand how things work in your organization, then you can begin making informed decisions about areas of improvement or where changes need to be made. By leading with confidence and having all of your ducks in a row before taking action helps maintain credibility throughout the entire process as well as opens up communication between everyone involved from employees at all levels throughout management teams. It also sets realistic expectations for everyone involved, which helps avoid unnecessary conflicts down the line when changes don’t happen overnight or don’t turn out as expected.
Credibility matters when trying to gain trust within any organization; it only takes one false start or poorly planned project for people’s faith in someone’s ability go down quickly – especially when trying to introduce change within their company operations. It is important for business leaders to take time beforehand gathering accurate information from those working on tasks directly involved with proposed changes. Simultaneously, they will also need to set realistic expectations across all levels of an organization so that everyone knows what needs be done and by when. A well thought out and well-planned project is one that properly outlines what will be implemented and the timeline to aid in avoiding conflict along the way. By following these steps, business leaders can confidently make decisions that best serve their organizations while maintaining their credibility at all times! If you’d like to discuss whether or not your organization is ready for change visit our contact us page and book a consultation today.
