5 Myths About Change In The Workplace….

& How Change Champions Can Help!

Since the pandemic, we are no strangers to change. We have all had to deal with a lot change on a day to day basis.

Ah, but what about the Myths of Change I mentioned? …bear with me, and you’ll see…

First, a few thoughts on positive and proven approaches to change:

“Ideas and products and messages and behaviours spread like viruses do” – Malcolm Gladwell

In ‘The Tipping Point’, Malcolm Gladwell (2000) connotes to explain the Tipping Points to change:

“the levels at which the momentum for change becomes unstoppable”
“the moment of critical mass, the threshold, the boiling point”

In Leandro Herrero’s ‘Viral Change’ (2006), Herrero explains his viral theory of change:

“a small set of non negotiable behaviours are defined and a process to encourage and spread these behaviours is adopted…endorsed by a small network of people, and this spreads new ways of doing things, quickly and effectively”

So, while the traditional route of change might be The Tsunami – a forceable wave from top-down, Gladwell and Herrero propose actually, it’s about a small group of people – your Change Champions – spreading the new ways of doing thing.

Think of the butterfly effect, a butterfly flaps its wings in Brazil and there is a storm in India – small behaviours can result in big things. This brings me onto…

The 5 Myths About Change In The Workplace:

1) Big change requires big actions
2) People are naturally resistant to change
3) People are rational and will accept logical, rational reasons for change
4) Everyone needs to be involved for change to be successful
5) The vision for change needs to come from the top and be ‘cascaded down’.

To see what we mean, here’s a humorous but very real example of a Change Champion working their magic, click here!

As our Music Festival friend demonstrates,the myths of change are busted.
When one person starts a new small movement, others soon follow, and everyone joins in the change party!

So what about our Change Champions and how they can help change in your organisation.

Here’s our little FAQs:

1) Why are they important? What do they do?

The Champions are your butterflies! They help agree the small set of non-negotiable behaviours, which will spark the change. They will be connecting and networking with each other, as well as employees, from different departments and teams, and communicating with the exec board. 

2) What are the non-negotiable behaviours?

Non-negotiable beahviours are a critical part of this change approach. They take the large/intangible parts and break them down, advising exactly what to do to to combat the issue.

For example, got a toxic culture? What does that mean? It can mean employees don’t feel they are able to communicate well outside their own teams perhaps.

A non-negotiable behaviour can be as simple as a Change Champion walking through the office of their next-door neighbour’s department and smiling and waving like a mad-person, just to put a smile on everyone’s face!

What about a lack of communication, where perhaps not everyone across different roles and teams feels they are up to date/included in internal comms?

A non-negotiable behaviour could be Champions set aside ten minutes a day to discuss with the team what’s on their minds, what they think would like to see happen.

3) Why should people want to be a Change Champion?

It’s a great opportunity to develop new skills and work on a project that will positively impact how it feels to work in your organisation. Also the Change Champions will get to work with people they wouldn’t normally interact with, and have the ear of the executive board for their team!

4) How do we implement Change Champions?

Once your leadership team are on board, to nominate your Champions you should mix management selection with a champions volunteer campaign.

This means not only the ‘obvious’ people are selected, it gives quietly enthusiastic people from all levels a chance to get involved too. Also, it should provide enough candidates who would be ideal for the role.

Want to know how we can help create change in your organisation? Get in touch with us here for a no-obligation chat with our expert Emma Bridger or download our free guide to champions here!