Leading Through Change: Strategies for Executives

Change is inevitable, and the ability to lead through it is a hallmark of successful executives.
As we transition into May 2024, Executive Agenda is dedicated to unraveling the intricacies of "Leading Through Change." Join us as we explore strategies for adapting to change as a leader, communicating change effectively to Group Chairs, and navigating challenges and opportunities that arise during periods of transformation.

 

Adapting to Change as a Leader

Change can be unsettling, but it's also an opportunity for growth and innovation. We delve into the mindset and strategies that executives need to embrace when faced with change. From fostering adaptability in leadership styles to navigating the psychological impact of change, discover how successful leaders not only weather change but thrive in its midst.

To complement your understanding, explore Harvard Business Review's "Leadership in a (Permanent) Crisis", which provides insights into adaptive leadership in times of uncertainty. This article, while written during the Great Recession of 2008, contains timeless guidance for leading an organization through change.

As the authors state, leading through change can be exhausting, As a leader, you must take care of yourself during the change journey, so you can successfully bring the organization through to its next state. Some tips to keep in mind in this regard, paraphrasing from the HBR article.
 

Tips to take care of yourself, during the change journey

1. Give yourself permission to be both optimistic and realistic. Keep optimism from turning into denial and realism from devolving into cynicism.
    
2. Find sanctuaries where you can reflect on events and regain perspective, a place or an activity that allows you to step away and recalibrate.
    
3. Reach out to confidants with whom you can debrief your workdays and articulate your reasons for taking certain actions. This is where a peer-based Executive Agenda group comes in – other, objective executives who have your best interests at heart and who will give you their best advice, whether affirming or contradicting your thinking, or giving you an entirely new train of thought.
    
4. Bring more of your emotional self to the workplace. Balance appropriate displays of genuine emotion with poise.

 

Communicating Change Effectively to Group Chairs

Communication is the linchpin of successful change management. Executives must master the art of conveying change with clarity, transparency, and empathy. We explore strategies for crafting impactful messages, addressing concerns, and maintaining trust with Group Chairs during times of transition.

For further guidance, consider reading John P. Kotter's "Leading Change", a seminal book that outlines the eight-step process for leading change in organizations. This is a classic, must-read for leaders instituting organizational change (a constant part of any leader’s job duties in today’s ever-shifting business landscape – adapt or die!).
 

Kotter’s principles, seemingly simple but deceptively complex, are:

1. Create a Sense of Urgency
    
2. Build a Guiding Coalition
    
3. Form a Strategic Vision
    
4. Enlist a Volunteer Army
    
5. Enable Action by Removing Barriers
    
6. Generate Short-Term Wins
    
7. Sustain Acceleration
    
8. Institute Change
    

My EA 27 group worked through Kotter’s and other change leadership models a few years ago, and the members gained many practical insights for leading through change.

 

Navigating Challenges and Opportunities

Change brings both challenges and opportunities. Executives must navigate these waters with strategic foresight. We delve into practical approaches for identifying and capitalizing on opportunities, mitigating challenges, and ensuring that the organization emerges stronger on the other side of change.

To deepen your insights, explore McKinsey's article on "Leading organizational transformations", which provides a framework for leading successful transformations. Although written in 1993, this article clearly speaks to the timeless aspects of leading organizational change, in order to effect meaningful change, the need for

“having in place a shared framework for structuring activities and responsibilities, a road map for laying out their proper sequence, and a background set of guiding principles”

The global firm Impact International uses four steps to help organizations successfully implement change management initiatives:

Moving Forward

Leading through change is an art that requires skillful navigation and effective communication. At Executive Agenda, we recognize the transformative potential of change when guided by strategic leadership. By adapting to change, communicating effectively, and navigating challenges and opportunities, executives can steer their organizations towards enduring success. Stay tuned for more insights as we continue to explore the dynamic landscape of executive leadership.

 

About the Author

Kraig Rodenbeck has been an Executive Agenda Group Chair since 2016 and serves three EA groups (EA 2, EA 8 and EA 27). A certified management consultant, he spent nearly 40 years in management consulting and professional services solution delivery in the areas of employee mobility management and human services.

His experience includes working with corporations and government agencies to improve performance, save costs and increase employee satisfaction. He was a member of EA 11 for 9 years prior to assuming his first group leader role. Kraig earned his Master’s degree at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.