Shift into the new year
Last October, more than one thousand enablement experts and professionals gathered in San Diego for Shift 2023, Seismic’s annual enablement conference. Attendees participated in various sessions designed to equip them for their enablement journeys’ complexity.
A third of our sessions were led by our incredible Professional Services team of experts. As we reflected on Shift, our team had a great idea: Let’s reinforce the great content attendees received while sharing strategic and practical tips with those who couldn’t make it.
Our “Shift into the New Year” series distills the top sessions into blog posts. You’ll learn about several topics that will help set you on the path to maturity, growth, and transformation. We look forward to sharing best practices and thought leadership that will help you develop your plans now, for 2024 and beyond.
In my role, I am fortunate to work closely with clients who are new to enablement and new to Seismic. Since our breakout session at Shift, the topic of change management has emerged more frequently. Two conversations come to mind – one with a well-established leader in software, and another with a growing business that was recently acquired by a tech giant. While their enablement efforts are unique, both organizations clearly understand the importance of change management in ensuring a thorough, scalable, and successful roll-out of Seismic.
They recognize that successful adoption of new technologies isn’t just a matter of implementing cutting-edge tools. It requires a well-managed and effective change management strategy. Before we dig in, let’s define change management. Change management is the structured, systematic process of rolling out change to end-users. Effective change management mitigates operational disruptions and aligns resources that empower end-users to understand and accept changes that impact their role and responsibilities. Change management factors in individual work styles, preferences, and attitudes, as well as organizational outcomes – like successfully rolling out an enterprise enablement solution to multiple teams within an organization.
Change management in the realm of technology is not just a procedural necessity. It’s the linchpin that determines whether organizations can seamlessly transition from legacy systems to new, transformative technologies in a way that minimizes disruption and maximizes intended outcomes. Enterprise solutions like Seismic impact every team in the org and require thoughtful planning to create new processes that drive innovation, efficiency, and competitive advantage.
The benefits of applying change management speak for themselves:
- 94% of projects met or exceeded objectives
- 81% were at or under budget
- 71% were on or ahead of schedule
Three change management best practices to know
As we’ve partnered with thousands of organizations on their enablement journeys, our experts have documented the following key elements to effectively manage change thoughtfully and intentionally.
1. Start with the “why”
Understanding that the path ahead is paramount to achieving business outcomes. Why change at all? Why rock the boat? Remember, the “why” should always be aligned to outcomes. You need to consider and clearly communicate the compelling reasons for change and the outcomes you’re driving toward. Communicating the “why” leads to alignment and clarity.
Change is not easy, and there is no such thing as a “small change.” People will not always jump on board because they’re told a change is good. Leaders must be prepared for the challenges to come. Be clear about the headwinds and tailwinds associated with the impending change and lean on your stakeholders to drive initiatives forward. Frontline managers are key to driving change, so be sure to equip them with the fortitude, resources, and skills required.
2. Change is a group project
If we always did what was good for us, we would take the stairs every day, eat a clean diet, and go to the gym. We understand that people aren’t always logical when it comes to change. However, we can take steps forward by identifying how various personas can best accept and handle change.
Everyone has their role in managing change, which means we need to be mindful of how we speak about it. Remember, we aren’t doing it “to” the people, but rather “with” and “for” them. This is walking the walk – lean in and get in the trenches with all levels across your organization.
3. Connect like-minded individuals
Across your organization, you’ll find people who work and act in different ways. These differences also apply to how they handle change. By tailoring your efforts to different adopter segments, you can drive change at scale.
For example, “Early Adopters” are excited about new technology and want to help drive change forward. It’s best to lean on them as champions who can help bring their peers along with them. On the other hand, “Pragmatists” need change to be very clear and practical. They aren’t going to change unless you paint a clear picture of why.
In today’s landscape, digital transformation is synonymous with organizational evolution. Organizations that want to mature and run best-in-class enablement programs must recognize the significance and impact of change management. Businesses must have a change management plan as they navigate the complexities of technological integration, market changes, and even internal disruptions.
All in all, change management for new technology is not easy or optional. But it’s also not impossible when we take a thoughtful approach. Connect with Seismic’s Professional Services team to continue the conversation about implementing change management to ensure you’re starting the New Year with a plan that effectively transforms your entire organization.
Is your team ready to win as one?
This is just a snapshot of what we discussed at Shift ‘23. You can still get on-demand access to this breakout session and more with Shift Wrapped. Interested in joining us in person this year? Sign up to be the first to hear about Shift-related news here. And, stay tuned for the next post of this series which will share tips and tricks for planning your enablement roadmap!
