How do you make change when you are lacking the necessary support as a leader?

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 22:23:14 -0400

RP Members and Connections one of the RP Members brought up a good point. What happens if you don't have the support needed to affect change?

Once you have considered the change objectives and scope, you'll also need to consider the specific tasks. Again, the range of possible activities is broad.

How do you gain support for your change initiatives?

What are some the activities you need to make happen?

Here are a couple of examples:

1. Ensuring there is clear expression of the reasons for change, and communicating this.

2. Identifying "change agents" and other people who need to be involved in specific change activities, such as design, testing, and problem solving, and who can then act as ambassadors for change.

3. Assessing all the stakeholders and defining the nature of sponsorship, involvement and communication that will be required.

4. Planning the involvement and project activities of the change sponsor(s).

5. Planning how and when the changes will be communicated, and organizing and/or delivering the communications messages.

Response by SGT Damaso V Santana made Aug 2 at 2016 10:32 PM

SGT Damaso V Santana — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 22:32:23 -0400

Thanks for sharing, great read!

Response by CPT Chris Loomis made Aug 2 at 2016 11:02 PM

CPT Chris Loomis — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 23:02:18 -0400

This is the type thread is love to see more of! Thank You Sir!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2016 11:21 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 23:21:17 -0400

Thumbs up sir!!!

Response by Col Dona Marie Iversen made Aug 2 at 2016 11:31 PM

Col Dona Marie Iversen — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 23:31:27 -0400

I strongly encourage the nay sayer (s) to join the team, group etc to share their points of views and recommended solutions. Do my utmost to hear and listen to their negativity and treat them as a valued member, been fortunate to gain their support through the years both in the military and civilian world. Not easy! Requires patience and perseverance and a libation or two after hours.

Response by PVT William Bresch made Aug 2 at 2016 11:57 PM

PVT William Bresch — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 23:57:29 -0400

Colonel Burroughs, read this book,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_48_Laws_of_Power

Your welcome...

The 48 Laws of Power - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 48 Laws of Power (1998) is the first book by American author Robert Greene.[1] The book is a bestseller,[2][3] selling over 1.2 million copies in the United States,[4] and is popular with prison inmates and celebrities.[4][5][6][7][8][9]

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2016 12:20 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 00:20:01 -0400

Colonel Mike Burroughs,
Sir, this is great insight on changing the way you can and how to make it happen. In my previous line of work, I basically kept it simple. Like a good Marine Gunnery Sergeant friend of mine once told when I got selected to Gunny. He told me 3 things not comes back, 1. The Arrow that is shot, 2. The Spoken Word, and 3. Lost Opportunities. Great article and information.
Semper Fidelis,
James

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2016 10:40 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 10:40:27 -0400

COL Mikel Burroughs
Good post. It states well what we need to perform to effect change. I believe it is written from the position of power.

A lot of us work in a position of authority, not being the absolute power that can consistently work on a subject until it’s implemented. In this case I would add: just like in a battle when you are losing, preserve you forces and fight a delaying action until you can begin to implement these changes and get more key people to buy in. Speaking from my current organization, once a ruling is made, it will be a thousand times more difficult (if not impossible) to get them to open up an agreement or policy once it is established.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Aug 9 at 2016 2:50 PM

CPT Pedro Meza — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 14:50:43 -0400

Some times change takes a slow process and all you can do is plant a seed, tend it and slowly convince other to help. Example women and the right to vote 100 years ago, look how long it has taken for women to have equality. Pick the battles that you can win and use subversion for the battle that you can win directly.

Response by Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM made Aug 12 at 2016 2:05 PM

Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 14:05:38 -0400

One Starfish at a time!

Response by LTC Jesse Edwards made Aug 14 at 2016 10:30 AM

LTC Jesse Edwards — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 10:30:16 -0400

This question assumes that the 'change' being sought is worthy of implementation.
To be a contrarian in an effort to cover more of a 360 on the topic, there are times when a leader may be wanting to implement 'change' that isn't worth the cost of implementing the change. A good leader listens and adapts. That could mean altering or dropping the effort to implement the change.

Response by SA Jim Arnold made Aug 18 at 2016 9:57 PM

SA Jim Arnold — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 21:57:38 -0400

Take the advice and inspirations , from the ones you lead

Response by SA Jim Arnold made Aug 18 at 2016 10:00 PM

SA Jim Arnold — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 22:00:26 -0400

There is no shame in accepting a suggestion from someone that works for you

Response by SGT Sara Hendrix made Aug 18 at 2016 11:46 PM

SGT Sara Hendrix — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 23:46:12 -0400

The best way to gain support is to listen . . Ask for input and feedback, then listen to those who are giving it to you. There you will find the answers as to why you dont have the support or as to what necessary adjustments to your changes should be made.

Response by SGT Christopher Clarke made Aug 31 at 2016 6:29 AM

SGT Christopher Clarke — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 06:29:17 -0400

Great info and well said Colonel!! Appreciate the thoughts. Every one of these are concepts and ideas that can be utilized in our daily lives!! Hooah!!

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made Nov 4 at 2016 1:08 PM

CPT Joseph K Murdock — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 13:08:17 -0400

I give them a goal, and the enlisted will come up with the plan. I will have more hands on due to the complexity of the goal.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2016 7:46 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 19:46:40 -0500

Colonel great insight the hardest job we have in the medical field is instituting change. Our practice revolves around gold standards of care. However these standards are constantly changing due to research conducted by peers and published in peer-reviewed articles. Understanding why the changes necessary and getting the buy-in of the change agents as you mentioned is key to ensuring a successful transition to a new standard.

Response by 1stSgt Matthew Olivolo made Dec 6 at 2016 5:50 PM

1stSgt Matthew Olivolo — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 17:50:17 -0500

What I like about this article is that these principles apply to us in all aspects of our life. Thank you for sharing sir!

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jan 7 at 2017 4:48 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 16:48:54 -0500

Thanks for sharing my friend COL Mikel J. Burroughs I thought I had responded long ago.
Being clear and consistent, giving your subordinates sufficient time to plan and prepare; and allowing failure to occur in training to build the team are very important.