Change Leadership Part 3

Unfreezing

As a change leader, it is your task to help unfreeze or unlock the situation. This will allow the organization to look differently at itself and recognize the need for change. 

Tactics include:

• Emphasize costs of not changing
• Communicate the plan
• Identify what will not change
• Identify the level of effort expected
• Walk your talk
• Modify Reward Mechanisms

Transition (Moving)

By unfreezing a situation, it is now possible to create the transition. This will allow the organization to move towards the change or target state.

  

Tactics include:

• Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
• Encourage overt resistance
• Focus attention on achieving the change
• Reward supporters, encourage resistors
• Create and Celebrate small victories

Re-freezing Tactics
Once the goal state has been reached, Lewin argues that it is necessary to ‘refreeze’ to ensure stability. It is important to note that this does not preclude the organization from changing again. Instead, the organization will begin the cycle again (Unfreeze, Transition, Refreeze) if needed.

Tactics include:

• Acknowledge costs and problems
• Reward champions
• Create new victories

Until next time...

 




Sheryl Tuchman, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
http://tools2succeed.com/