The Communication Strategy That Makes Change Stick

The new year often brings waves of change in organizations. New strategies, restructuring, system implementations, the works.?

As a leadership coach for over two decades, I see this pattern every January: ambitious plans, excited leaders, and then... frustration when things don't move as quickly as expected.

I recently met with a group of leaders who were hitting that wall.?

Their organizational change was moving at a snail's pace, and resistance was mounting.?

They were doing what so many leaders do - "winging it" and hoping for the best.

Change is hard, it's expensive, and 70% of change initiatives fail.?

The good news is that successful change isn't about luck or natural talent. It's about following a strategic process.?

Over the next few weeks, I'll share three critical strategies that have helped my clients beat those discouraging statistics.

Today, I want to dive in with the first strategy: A Communication Plan.

Sending out one company-wide email about an upcoming change isn't going to cut it.?

In fact, it's a recipe for confusion, resistance, and, ultimately, failure.

My clients are often surprised to hear that people need to hear about a change 6-7 times before they truly get it.

And not just seven identical emails.

People need to hear about change in different ways, through different channels, and with different levels of detail.

What does this look like in practice??

Here's your blueprint:

• Town Halls:?Give people the big picture and let them ask questions
• Team Meetings:?Break down what it means for specific groups
• One-on-ones:?Address individual concerns and roles
• Department Updates:?Focus on practical impacts and next steps

The key is that each communication should build on the last, adding clarity and answering the questions that have come up along the way.

Stay tuned for the second critical change management strategy coming your way next week!

Want to dive deeper into any of these strategies?

Download my?FREE guidebook?on managing change. It's packed with practical tools you can use right away.