Content is Easy, Change is Hard

One of our coaches worked with a client for about four months, and they were only able to make one significant change in that client’s business. The coach said, “At this rate, we can change about three things per year. Are you good with that?”

The client responded, “If we can make three changes that matter, it will be worth it.”

What a refreshing take! Some leaders expect that an email directive, a slick PowerPoint deck or a well-designed training seminar is all it takes to make significant change. But if you’ve been leading others for long, you know that change requires much more than just a clear presentation of a smart idea .

You’ve heard the mantra that“people don’t like change.” There is certainly some truth to that cliché, but there is much more to the story. People will quickly change when the new way of doing things is easier than continuing with the old way. And if you can engage them on a rational AND emotional level, change simply becomes the new way of doing things.

As Chip Heath says, “If you want a reluctant elephant to get moving, you need to shrink the change.”

Pro-Active’s Take

In many ways, writing content is the easiest part of developing training initiatives and other people-development efforts. What takes much more effort is really understanding people and why they do things the way they do. We take pride in building close relationships with our business partners, so we can work together to “shrink the change.”

If you’d like some more information on how Pro-Active partners with our clients to create lasting change, give us a call.