Change Clarity

A lack of clarity is one of the biggest obstacles to successful change. This week, we’re focusing on overcoming that challenge by achieving Change Clarity, which has two essential dimensions: a clear definition of success and alignment among all participants.

Two Dimensions of Change Clarity

1. Success Definition: A well-defined success outcome provides a clear and measurable description of what success looks like. For example, instead of a vague goal like "getting healthy," a precise success definition might be: “losing ten pounds, eating breakfast every morning, and sleeping seven hours a night.” Before initiating any change, ask yourself: What will be different in the future? Define success in concrete, measurable terms to create a clear path to achievement.
2. Alignment: Even with a clear success definition, change will struggle without alignment. This means everyone involved must understand the change in the same way and actively support it. Achieving alignment requires identifying who can impact your success and securing their buy-in. For example, if you're trying to lose ten pounds but live with someone who regularly buys junk food, their lack of alignment could derail your efforts. They need to understand your goal and agree to support your journey.

The Four Change States

Here’s a visual framework for understanding how the dimensions of clarity and alignment interact:

1. Aimless: When there’s little clarity and no specific definition of success, people are aimless. The lack of direction leaves everyone confused, with no understanding of what needs to change.
2. Lost: Alignment exists, but the future state is vague. Everyone is on board with the idea of change, but without a clear definition of success, each person interprets it differently. This is often the case with New Year's resolutions: initial enthusiasm fades because no one has a concrete plan to achieve the goal.
3. Vulnerable: A clear success definition exists, but there's no alignment. Without agreement or support, the change is vulnerable to resistance or sabotage, making it difficult to move forward.
4. Dedicated Direction: When you have both a clear success definition and alignment, you’ve achieved change clarity. This is the sweet spot where everyone is moving in the same direction, and progress is not only possible but inevitable.

To avoid falling into the aimless, lost, or vulnerable states, you need to intentionally create clarity by:

• Defining success in specific, measurable terms. What does success look like, feel like, and how will you know you've achieved it?
• Aligning everyone involved by ensuring they understand and support the change. This requires communication, feedback, and agreement.

Take Action: Get Feedback

One crucial way to confirm clarity is to ask for feedback. Don't assume everyone sees things the way you do. When working on a change project, ask each participant for their definition of success. This simple step often highlights hidden misunderstandings and ensures that everyone is truly aligned.

Remember: Creating change clarity is the first, most important step toward ensuring your change project succeeds. Define success, align your team, and watch how much smoother the process becomes.

ACTION:?

Before moving forward with your next project or change initiative, take 10 minutes to write down a clear, measurable definition of success. Then, share it with your team and ask them to explain it back to you in their own words.