building a change-ready organization

1 brightspot strategy Eight Schools Association ©2016. All Rights Reserved.

Building a Change–Ready OrganizationThe Mindset, Toolset, and Skillset enabling more responsiveness and resilience

Elliot Felix Founder, brightspot strategy


hello!


about brightspot

experience We guide organizations to their future.


about brightspot


today’s agenda:

ToolsetMindset

Questions and Discussion

Introduction

Skillset


What are some factors creating change in your

organization?


What are some factors that create a resistance to change

in your organization?


mindset


How might you think differently as a leader to

build a more change-ready organization?


listen and guide, not directsomething Color Era Mgmt by Innovation Metaphor Examples

Teal Today Self Self-management Wholeness Evolutionary- Purpose

Living Organism

Morningstar, Patagonia, Valve Software

Green Post-Modern / Information

Culture and Values

Values and Purpose Empowerment Multi-stakeholder

Family Starbucks, Ben & Jerry's, Southwest

Orange Scientific / Industrial

Objectives Innovation Accountability Meritocracy

Machine Modern corporation

Amber Traditional / Agrarian

Hierarchy Long-term POV Size and Structure

Army Army, Church, Public Schools

Red Tribal Fear N/A Wolf Pack Gangs, Mafia


self-organizing story: Morning Star

https://hbr.org/2011/12/first-lets-fire-all-the-managers

The mission is the bossEmployees create annual “CLOU”sAnyone can suggest improvementsAnyone can spend resourcesNo titles or promotionsPeer-based compensation decisions


embrace lean to test and iterateInstead of beginning with an idea you think people want, spending years to develop it, launching it, and failing… you conduct quick tests with increasing detail to get feedback, learn, and deliver something you know people will use and value.

Why adopt a lean approach?

•  Minimize risk

•  Build support and loyalty

•  Change the pitch


a lean story: Adobe Kickbox

Source: http://www.fastcodesign.com/3042128/adobes-kickbox-the-kit-to-launch-your-next-big-idea


•  You don’t have to have all the answers – you can listen to where the organization wants to go and you can test and refine as you go

•  The more you distribute responsibility, the faster you can move and the more easily you can change

•  The greater the transparency and participation, the greater the ownership and engagement (and the more change-ready you are)

a few lessons…


Reflection and Discussion


mindset reflection and discussionTake a couple minutes to reflect and write, then we’ll discuss as a group.


Toolset


What tools can you apply so that you can be more nimble?


design better meetingsMost organizations spend a significant amount of their time meeting, but rarely are these meetings designed. Being intentional about the “5Ps” boosts efficiency and effectiveness.

PURPOSE PEOPLE PROTOCOLS PRODUCTS PLACEIs the meeting needed? If so, to accomplish what? What is the desired outcome?

What type of group is it? Deciders? Creators? Recurring or 1-time? Team or strangers?

How will people participate? How will decisions be made? Who is playing what role?

What does the group need to produce? A list? A map? Comments? A prototype?

What’s the best configuration and setting for the people involved and activities planned?


make better decisionsMost organizations lose time, money, and people over how they make decisions – generally when the type of decision-making process is misunderstood. Make the type explicit.

Decision by one person without consulting others

Decision is made by one person with consultation from others

Decision is made by the group based on the most favored choice

Everyone has a voice that is heard and agrees to go with direction, despite objection

Decision made by group unanimity

INDEPENDENT CONSENSUSCONSULTATIVE MAJORITY CONSENT


a few lessons…

•  Thinking differently only happens when you operate differently – and it’s easier to act your way into thinking differently than think your way into acting differently

•  How you design, facilitate, and document your meetings can enable you to be responsive and embrace change

•  How you make decisions can increase or decrease your productivity and your team’s buy-in


toolset reflection and discussionTake a couple minutes to reflect and write, then we’ll discuss as a group.


Skillset


What skills do you need as a leader to adapt to change?


tell clear and compelling storiesMost change initiative fail. Many because it’s poorly communicated. Have your elevator pitch down and then think about story archetypes. Remember story is strategy (B. Horowitz)

To turn your pitch into a story, consider following a tried-and-true story archetype:

•  Overcoming the monster

•  Rebirth

•  Quest

•  Journey and return

•  Rags to riches

•  Tragedy

•  Comedy

To get to the essence of what your idea, initiative, program or plan, use this madlib:

For <audience> who <motivation> we deliver <idea / initiative / program> with <unique characteristic> that <benefit to audience>.

For example: For leaders who want more nimble organizations, this presentation delivers ideas about the change mindset, toolset, and skillset with opportunities to reflect that apply these ideas to their work.


a story about a new workplace initiative

“The Work+ program integrates the university’s technology, training and facilities expertise in a way that enables colleges and units to redesign their workplace into a variety spaces…to be as effective as possible.”

before after


prototypingMaking incremental progress, testing ideas, minimizing risk and building momentum all rely upon skills to prototype – and getting matching the fidelity and duration right.

Dimensions of Fidelity:1.  Breadth: how much of function

is included?

2.  Depth: how much of back end function is there?

3.  Interaction: how do customers and staff interact with it?

4.  Look and Feel: how closely does it approximate the concept?

Skills needed: •  Comfort with ambiguity and uncertainty •  Writing (i.e., role play scripts) •  Acting and improv •  Physical and digital making •  Storytelling •  Assessment


prototype IT helpdesk


a few lessons…

•  Change happens faster went you break it into smaller increments that you can assess, tweak, and scale up

•  Testing things out requires specific skills you’ll need to build

•  Changes are adopted and sustained because of the stories you tell


skillset reflection and discussionTake a couple minutes to reflect and write, then we’ll discuss as a group.


questions?


thank you! [email protected]

@elliotfelix

www.brightspotstrategy.com

@brightspotter

building a change-ready organization

Education