Last week, Justin Braun addressed how vital is it for an organization to prepare their team for the level of change brought on a CloudSuite migration project. A task that is much easier said than done, Justin has some advice on how leaders can approach this conversation.
“The first variable is identifying and articulating a strategically sound and inspirational vision of the future. This is the stage where we really look to the organization’s leaders to capitalize on what that vision of the future looks like and why it's important – that’s the moment the leadership can really unite the team and get them excited about the ways this project can transform your business. This is also an opportunity to engage with partners and help them get on board with the vision of the future.
Another way to overcome any internal resistance to change is amplifying any dissatisfaction with your current state. Sometimes that means taking the time to understand your current state and resource levels. This situation is one where you really want to lean on your frontline managers – I'm making a distinction here between leaders and managers, because sometimes those are not necessarily the same people. Leaders galvanize their team and keep everyone on the same page, while managers allocate people in dollars. Both of those are very important functions, but it’s the people directly involved in the project who need to be relied on the most to successfully get it across the finish line.
One reason for this is because your frontline managers are going to be closer to that dissatisfaction. They are the ones who are most knowledgeable about what is and is not working well with your current state. When you identify those areas of dissatisfaction and you prepare to embark upon a change, these people should amplify this information so that everyone on the team understands why you are taking on this change. Is it because our current software is obsolete, or is it because it presents an opportunity to solve real world problems that we deal with every day? In my opinion, the best way to do this is by clearly communicating a vision of the future and any dissatisfaction with your current state so that all those pain points can be addressed over the course of the project.”
