How do you lead change within a creative team?
GLI Fellows focus on this question with operations experts Tim Kraft of NC State Poole College of Management and Andrew Gonce of Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals in their Change Management Module.
By analyzing case studies, the 2023 Cohort extracted a range of insightful takeaways —
I. BUILDING CONSENSUS TO EVOLVE
Change management best starts with consensus on the need to evolve. When teams agree on a shared transformation goal, they can rally morale to face sustained efforts beyond day-to-day responsibilities. But reaching this transformation consensus requires teams to dedicate significant time to addressing workforce concerns, fears, and challenges.
II. NAVIGATING INGRAINED STRUCTURES
Change management often involves modifying deeply engrained relationships in organizations and people, but in a crisis scenario where transformation is urgent, soft skills alone will not do. In the context of stretched resources, visionary leadership needs something to hold on to adequately address the distress and conflict arising from the additional workload.
III. DEVELOPING A RELATABLE VISION
Change management should focus on measurable outcomes and a plan easily understood by all — insiders and outsiders. The change plan must contemplate “hard” factors like time, resources, and financial results because by meeting these “hard” issues head-on, “soft” results will follow: a sense of relief, joy, achievement, and enhanced motivation to see the transformation process through.
IV. CHARTING MILESTONES
Milestones are important to change management. Milestones provide the opportunities to formally review the execution of projects and make adjustments and improvements where needed. Once the change process is complete, debriefing is critical to yield valuable insights and information to help support future change projects.
V. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
No change project is ever the last one because change is a constant that any organization can always expect. By learning to embrace, guide, and support this process, arts leaders and creative organizations can strengthen and improve a highly valuable skill over time. ▣
