When planning change, think about what you need from leaders in your team, in your organisation and perhaps in a different organisation or sector. This helps to identify the leaders who can support you.
When considering how to identify what leadership roles your change programmes needs, it can be helpful to think about the aspects listed below. This may require help from people outside your team. This may involve staff from other services, organisations, or departments.
Effective and sustained change requires persistence and drive
Having the right person or people in charge of the daily operations of the programme can help:
- build and maintain momentum
- identify and address opportunities and challenges in advance
Senior leader or board member support
Your programme might need support from senior leaders or board members in your organisation. It might help to connect with someone who knows them as they can:
- talk with credibility to senior leaders
- understand the priorities, values, and concerns of the senior leaders
- shape messaging that resonates with senior leaders
- enable effective input into your programme from board members
- provide reassurance and guidance to the board when considering change
Change programme advocates
Having advocates for your change programme builds support and inspires others to act. Advocates can help you:
- explain to others why the change is happening, how you will do it, what you hope to achieve, and what results you expect
- develop support for your change through both formal and informal interactions with others
- feed insight and advice back to you about how people are thinking and feeling about your change
You might find this person in your management team or the programme or organisation. They can generate enthusiasm and get others on board.
Additional support
It can help to have someone who spots potential roadblocks, tracks new ones, and knows how to clear them. Also having someone who knows many people and what is happening can help you connect with others. They can also assist you in finding support when needed.