By Chris Jennings

In our consultancy role at C.Co, we are frequently called upon by clients to help them find ways to work through challenges which are acting as barriers to success. Our starting point is always around the people, especially understanding the psychology of individuals. For example, what is prompting specific behaviours and what is standing in the way of behaviour change? Perhaps it is capability, or opportunity or just lack of motivation to change?

When it comes to tackling significant challenges, every organisation is different but there are some broadly similar principles which we tend to adopt when we approach a new brief.

Ten point plan

Here’s a short summary of a strategy overview that can work well when you are starting the journey towards behaviour change.

  1. Firstly, and potentially most importantly, you need to have a deep understanding of the situation you are in and establish the outcome you want to reach.
  2. Establish why a change is needed and what will be its impacts, its benefits and disadvantages for stakeholders.
  3. Assess who and what will both help and hinder you, providing either supports or obstacles.
  4. Understand the factors that are inside and outside your control and how they can be taken into account to achieve the outcome required.
  5. Transparency is important. Determine how you will stay informed and keep others informed too.
  6. Understand empathy and bias, i.e. what drives everyone’s motivations and how these may affect outcomes if not considered appropriately
  7. Recognise the courage to deliver change, the importance of simplicity and maintaining pace, and lastly autonomy, which will encourage both accountability and creativity.
  8. Recognise evidence. Decisions must always be evidence-based and reliable evidence of progress and impact is essential.
  9. Understand how to embed adaptability, exploration and review throughout the change process. This is because change is never static.
  10. Finally, appreciate the relationship between change and Business As Usual and the evolution of what is time limited activity into what becomes ongoing, sustainable activity.

To sum up, the most important point to remember is to make a start with the end in mind and not let yourself get distracted from that. Bringing about behavioural change to overcome challenges is hard. Talk to us if you would like to discover how C.Co can help you tackle challenges in your organisation.