Looking Backwards to Move Forwards in Change

Margit Takacs

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Do you remember the aftermath of the global meltdown of 2008? I was trying to work out if Gen Zers, now at the beginning of their careers would have much understanding of the event that rocked the world for years afterwards. Their parents were almost certainly affected. But if you were born between 1997 and 2013, congratulations, your timing was perfect! You might have been alive during the crisis, but it was thankfully someone else's problem to sort out. I was one of those 'someone else's'. Looking back, earning my change management stripes during one of the world’s biggest change events, has shaped who I am, and how I approach change challenges today.

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It was in 2010, or maybe 2011, when I was asked to train a group of super-smart students in change techniques. These talented youngsters were the cream of their various universities' graduate programs and were volunteering to work with Empieza Por Educar, a Spanish leadership program that offered selected graduates the opportunity to gain valuable experience. It made sense for them to sign up rather than enter a workplace with zero opportunities. This was around the time of Spain's bailout and the economy was in recession.

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I was introduced to a young student, Estefania, who was a joy to work with. She learned fast and I got a sense that deep down she wanted to make a difference. Her task was not an easy one. Her group was deployed to under-resourced schools, in mostly rural Spain. It was not long after she left to start her assignment when I received a call from her. She was distraught at the level of poverty she had found. In her town, most of the shops had closed. Nearly every household had one or more family members who had been retrenched or forced to take early retirement. Money was scarce.

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Estefania told me how 'her' children had lost hope. They had no interest in school, and who could blame them? The world looked very bleak and studying pointless.

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That's when I told her about a change technique called Backward Imaging. I went through the process with her and made her promise to let me know the results.

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If you have read Steven Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People you may remember his advice to, "begin with the end in mind." In essence, he was talking about Backward Imaging. I am not sure which came first, but I am sure that the technique works. It is similar to, but not the same as simple 'visualisation'. Backward Imaging is a much more strategic approach. It involves painting a vivid picture of a desired future outcome and then, working backward, meticulously planning out every step required to reach that outcome. But not just from a technical point of view, but by describing what people will see around them, what they will do in the future (actions), how they will feel, collaborate (results and outcomes), and what success will look like (descriptions), in tangible terms. In our Change Maverick language, - a roadmap for change.

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In Estefania's case she sat with her students and with difficulty got them to think far outside of their current situation. One by one, they painted a mental picture (sometimes with the help of a vision board) of the life they would like to live one day. They told her they wanted to work in an office, own a business, buy a house, own a car, and travel. Estefania patiently helped them to plan each step they needed to take to realise that outcome. Right up to passing their maths exams, so that they could graduate high school, enter university, get the office job that would unlock the income that would allow them the comforts that they had seen stripped away from their parents and grandparents.

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Here's a short five step version of what I taught Estefania:

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1. Identify the Desired Future: Imagine a specific, tangible future state you want to achieve. In great detail.

2. Visualize the Outcome: Paint a vivid mental picture of this future. What does it look like? How does it feel? Who will be involved??

3. Work Backwards: From this future state, work backwards to identify all the major milestones needed to arrive there. To graduate from university, you first need to finish school. ?Don’t tell them. Explore it together with them!

4. Break Down the Steps: Break down these milestones into granular, easily manageable tasks. This step-by-step approach makes the end goal feel more achievable and less overwhelming. To graduate from university, you must first pass next week’s math exam. ?

5. Implement and Adjust: Start working on these tasks. Along the way, adjust your plan as needed while keeping your end goal in mind. Didn't pass math? Ask a friend to help you study.

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The outcome was a happy one. Estefania executed this technique brilliantly. Over the year she was at the school, her students not only improved their class averages but there was a sense of hope for a brighter future. With Estefania's help, they found a tangible path out of their circumstances. Way beyond an empowering vision board, they knew what they needed to do to make those aspirations a reality. Once they understood how their education could help them escape, they were fully on board.

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Have you used Backward Imaging in your work? I'd love to hear about your experiences and the impact it had on your approach to change management.

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And here is this week's unashamed plug for my book. :-) You can read all about my time in Spain, (and Estefania's journey) in Change Matters! Grab your copy on Amazon!

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