Today’s popular notion with some academic theorists suggests successful managers should only introduce change through radical ideas that shake the organization to its very core.
These types of unproven, radical management approaches to change are often associated with high risks including: the continued retention of high performing staff, the loss of staff morale, alienation of satisfied customers and ultimately financial success.
While many management consultants are sticking to this hot button notion that somehow radical change is easier than incremental improvement – the ACG Group finds this popularized, newly minted concept hard to buy into. The reality is radical change isn’t a real possibility in most business situations and unnecessary.
For example, managers having the discipline to follow a longer term plan usually find the odds of success solidly in their favor and are much more successful. Stop and think about the downside negatives associated with throwing an organization into the chaos? All of which are generated by a hastily initiated outline built upon sketchy objectives.
Consider for a minute the motivational opportunities available to managers who are able to show their teams immediate successes by achieving short term objectives. These rapid improvements are especially strong motivators when people can see the immediate benefits of teamwork rather than the anxiety related to radical change.
Keep in mind, that it is always important to quickly identify, achieve and promote positive results for the organization. Getting on the scoreboard quickly provides everyone with the opportunity of seeing some “short term wins” that can provide the emotional momentum needed for operational success. Without sufficient short term victories that are immediately visible, timely and reward hard work, managerial change efforts will run into serious problems.
Always keep in mind the immediate objective is to emotionally reward the hard workers throughout the organization while putting the organization back into a competitive and financially successful position. This approach assures the naysayers will be kept at bay while the operation continues to build momentum.
Without immediate successes that are visible to everyone radical change efforts can easily run into irreversible roadblocks that will stymie even the most capable of managers.
