Friday we had an executive from Wal-mart speak to our MBA class.  He spoke about understanding reactions to change, the steps of change management, and being a champion of change.  Here are few thoughts:

The same change can bring about anger, shock, or excitement in different people.  Understanding how others will feel about changes will help you be able to relate to others and manage the change process.  By seeing the change from another point of view you can improve the probability of success and build a greater understanding of why the change needs to happen.

Being a Change Agent:

1.               Find one of two ideas that will have the greatest impact - don't waste time battling for insignificant change when the greater impact can be had with other change efforts.

2.               Create a clear vision - change must be communicated simply and effectively and should be able to be explained by others.

3.               Identify people who can help - get the key decision makers on board, CEO, division leaders, etc.

4.               Eliminate Barriers - remove barriers that fight or block change. For example, there may be someone so invested in the old process that they will constantly fight and complain about a new way of doing things.

5.               Be the Champion of Change - don't allow yourself to get stuck in the day to day; remember to put your efforts into activities that will impact and lead change.

A piece of advice as we go out into the world: "Be humble a lot was accomplished before you were born" - the point was that we can go out and make great contributions, but we need to remember that a lot of good has been done by those who have already been there.