Collaboration – the compelling case for change

Corporate survival relies on the delivery of the all-new whizz-bang customer experience. And the most critical factor in determining the success of that delivery is the motivation of the people involved.

In other words, every organisation has the same top 2 priorities: staying relevant to customers, and engaging staff. Relentlessly focusing first on these objectives then clears a path for everything else on the corporate agenda – from maximising shareholder value to volunteering aid.

Change is essential to achieving both of these priorities:

1. All organisations are built on the shifting sands of their customers’ needs and wants. Staying relevant requires the ultimate change: the one that their customers feel and value.
2. Even those who love jobs they’ve been doing the same way for years are likely to lose their sparkle eventually. Change, on the other hand, can provide the opportunity to contribute and the reason to unite in ways that the status quo can only dream of.

But here’s the rub: only about half of change programmes succeed – which is just depressing. But what’s even more Eeyorish is that this doesn’t include all the change initiatives that didn’t happen which should have. That means organisations are failing to maximise their relevance to their customers, and missing opportunities to motivate their staff. (For example, Gallup reckons that only 13% of workers worldwide are engaged – which is not surprising if half of their initiatives are failing). Therefore, the costs and opportunity costs of not mastering change have a measurable effect on the bottom line.

But, as we are all suppliers and customers to each other, what we are also missing out on is something altogether more emotive. By failing to unlock our change capability, we are losing the chance to enhance our mutual quality of life by providing benefits to others through work we ourselves find engaging.

By changing the way we think and feel about change, we will expose ourselves to more opportunities to collaborate. And now more than ever we need to stand united in defence of the most compelling reason why people embrace change – freedom; the freedom of choice, the freedom to act, and ultimately, the freedom to make a difference. Vive la difference!

Rich Alderton specialises in Adaptability Intelligence and executive coaching, so call us on 07873 823 800, email us or complete our enquiry form to find out more.

Rich's free e-book is available to download here.