Organizations need to reconsider why 70% of changes fail. There are hidden natural tensions in organizations that have a great impact on change. Strong leaders can work with natural human motivation to reduce the tension and manage the change.

1. DR. JIM BOHN
PRO/AXIOS
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, USA

2. The failure rate of organizational change.

3. WHY DO CHANGES FAIL?
SOME REASONS ARE
OBVIOUS:
•Lack of leadership
•Lack of resources
•“Resistance” (although research is
giving us new insight into this issue).

4. CHANGES WITHIN THE
CHANGE
There is more than meets
the eye in a ‘normal’
change.

5. Centralization
Process
Constraint
Decentralization
“Empowerment”
Freedom
The TENSION of CONSTRAINT vs. FREEDOM

6. The TENSION of PAST vs. FUTURE
Things
worked well
in the past
We need
to look to
the future

7. THE TENSION OF EXECUTIVE VS. STAFF VIEWPOINTS
I wish they
understood
what I do
every day.
I wish they
understood
what I do
every day.

8. THE TENSION OF TEAM VS. ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS
This
team
rocks!
This
team
rocks!
This
team
rocks!
This
team
rocks!
“We’ll need to
change the team
structure to support
the change.”

9. THE TENSION OF INDIVIDUAL VS. ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS
What’s
in it for
me?
What’s
in it for
us?
Promotion?
Pay
increase?
Wall Street
visibility?
Improved
Revenues?

10. • The TENSION of CONSTRAINT vs. FREEDOM
• The TENSION of PAST vs. FUTURE
• The TENSION of EXECUTIVE vs. STAFF viewpoints
THE TENSION OF TEAM VS. ORGANIZATIONAL GOAL
THE TENSION OF INDIVIDUAL VS. ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS

11. THESE TENSIONS EXIST IN THE
HEARTS AND MINDS OF EVERY
TEAM MEMBER AFFECTED BY A
CHANGE.
• The TENSION of CONSTRAINT vs. FREEDOM
• The TENSION of PAST vs. FUTURE
• The TENSION of EXECUTIVE vs. STAFF viewpoints
THE TENSION OF TEAM VS. ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS
THE TENSION OF INDIVIDUAL VS. ORGANIZATIONAL GOA

12. SO … WHAT’S THE
RESOLUTION TO THESE
TENSIONS?• THERE IS NO RESOLUTION: THESE TENSIONS WILL
REMAIN.
• THERE IS NO COOKBOOK THAT WILL CONTROL
EVERY UNFORESEEN SITUATION IN A CHANGE.
• THERE IS NO PERFECT ANSWER AND NO “ONE-SIZE-
FITS-ALL”.

13. These tensions cannot be
completely resolved - but we can
work with human motivation to
reduce them …1. PEOPLE WILL ALIGN AROUND AN
EQUITABLE COMMON GOAL THAT THEY
UNDERSTAND.
2. PEOPLE NEED TO BE REMINDED OF THE
GOAL.
3. PEOPLE NEED TO BE REWARDED FOR
ACHIEVING THE GOAL.

14. These tensions cannot be
completely resolved - but…
we can reduce them …
1. EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE THE GOAL.
2. PROVIDE A CLEAR RATIONALE FOR THE
CHANGE.
3. PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EMPLOYEE
‘VOICE’ INTO THE PROCESS.

15. PRO/AXIOS
• We offer plainspoken guidance
for those who do the work.
• Check out the Rapid Diagnostic @ www.ProAxios.com
• info@proaxios.com
• 651-302-1574
• Minneapolis, MN, USA
8/6/2013
Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational Transformation