From the personal and professional experiences of other colleagues and myself, one of the more critical success factors for management is implementation. Through my observations, I have discovered that people and organization spend a great deal of resources including time, dollars and the cumulative total of the energy generated from these efforts to create business or strategic plans. Yet, these very same costly plans languish in a manager's desk drawer or on an executive's shelf. The incredible inspiration power within these plans lay untouched because few individuals understand how to implement the plan.
Implementation is multi-faceted. This action requires a combination of consistently applying knowledge and skills including communication, decision-making, delegation, goal setting and goal achievement, prioritization, time management and working with the psychology change. However without steady and demonstrated values by all involved, especially those initiating the plan, implementation will falter and succumb to the inertia of indecision and procrastination.
By respecting everyone's needs, the management begins to build What's In It For Me (WIIFM) leading to What's In It For Us (WiIFU). When working on plans whether strategic or departmental, I have learned to validate current behaviors by asking the following question: What do you need from me so that you can successfully implement this plan? This question builds a bridge between management and the team where all now are the catalysts for change.
Successful implementation of change happens when we embrace a clear purpose, attitudes of partnership and steadfast demonstration of core values. Then, everyone can be a "Catalyst Champion" to change.
Leanne Hoagland-Smith, M.S. President of ADVANCED SYSTEMS, is the Process Specialist. With over 25 years of business and education experience, she builds peace and abundance by connecting the 3P's of Passion, Purpose and Performance through process improvement. Her ROI driven process solutions affect sustainable change in 4 key areas: financials, leadership, relationships and growth & innovation with a variety of industries. She aligns the strategies, systems and people to develop loyal internal customers that lead to external customers. As co-author of M.A.G.I.C.A.L. Potential:Living an Amazing Life Beyond Purpose to Achievement due for June 2005 release, Leanne speaks nationally to a variety of audiences. Please call Leanne a call at 219.759.5601 or leanne@processspecialist.com if you are seeking amazing results.
Copyright 2005(c) Leanne Hoagland-Smith, http://www.processspecialist.com
Permission to publish this article, electronically or in print, as long as the bylines are included, with a live link, and the article is not changed in any way (grammatical corrections accepted).