CHANGE MANAGEMENT | MAKING CHANGE WORK
Ditch the Old and Embrace the New Seamlessly
Blending change management and change leadership is the only way.
Hey there! So, when it comes to changing things up in an organization, we’ve got two key players: change management and change leadership.
Think of change management as your guide through the whole process. It’s like having a detailed roadmap, ensuring everyone knows where they’re going, and helping them cope with any bumps. The goal is to make the change as smooth as possible for everyone involved.
On the flip side, change leadership is the driving force behind the change. It’s about being the cheerleader, rallying everyone around a shared vision, and giving them the motivation and resources to make it a reality. Change leadership fuels the change, keeping everyone inspired and excited about the transformation journey.
Let’s put this into context. Imagine we’re introducing a new tech system. Change management steps in by organizing training sessions, offering support, and ensuring everyone understands how to use the latest software hassle-free. Change leadership, though, is about getting everyone pumped up about the benefits of this new system, uniting the team under the vision of improved efficiency, and sparking that energy needed to make the transition a success.
Similarly, in a significant company reshuffle, change management ensures people know what to expect in their new roles, minimizing confusion and stress. Meanwhile, change leadership changes by painting a picture of the exciting future, aligning teams with new goals, and fostering a positive atmosphere of adaptability and creativity.
Let's give another example from my favorite brand of entertainment: movies! Consider the movie “Moneyball” (2011) to illustrate the difference between change management and change leadership.
In “Moneyball,” change management and change leadership are exemplified through the character of Billy Beane (played by Brad Pitt), the general manager of the Oakland Athletics baseball team. Facing budget constraints, Beane embraces a data-driven approach to player recruitment, challenging the traditional scouting methods.
“There is an epidemic failure within the game to understand what is really happening. And this leads people who run Major League Baseball teams to misjudge their players and mismanage their teams.” — Peter Brand (Source)
The change management aspect is demonstrated when Beane and his assistant, Peter Brand (played by Jonah Hill), meticulously analyze player statistics and employ a structured, methodical approach to assemble a competitive team within a limited budget. They focus on minimizing risks and ensuring a smooth transition using statistical analysis to make informed decisions about player acquisitions and trades. This process represents change management in action — a well-thought-out strategy, carefully managing the impact of change on the team.
Change leadership, on the other hand, is embodied in Beane’s personal advocacy, vision, and determination to challenge the status quo. He faces resistance from traditionalists within the team and the baseball community. Beane’s ability to inspire and motivate his players, coaches, and staff, rallying them behind his unconventional approach, showcases change leadership. He paints a compelling vision of success through data-driven strategies, aligns everyone with this vision, and instills confidence and enthusiasm in the team, driving them toward a new way of doing things.
In this example, change management is about the structured analysis and adaptation of processes (player recruitment). In contrast, change leadership is about Beane’s charisma, vision, and ability to inspire the team to embrace a radically different approach to the game. Together, these elements led the Oakland Athletics to a successful season, highlighting the importance of change management and change leadership in achieving transformative goals.
So, in a nutshell, change management handles the nitty-gritty details of change, while change leadership is all about lighting the fire and keeping it burning bright. They’re both crucial, just tackling different aspects of the same journey.
Beane, in Moneyball, encountered significant opposition due to his innovative methods, resulting in a rough start to the season as the team fell ten games behind the leading position. However, after fully committing to their approach, the team experienced a turnaround, securing victories and achieving an unprecedented 20-game winning streak.
It’s not magic — it’s change management and change leadership!
Organizational change management practitioners work with leaders, people managers, program managers, HR managers, and the people who must integrate and implement both successfully.
“Adapt or die!” — Billy Beane character, Moneyball.
© 2023 K. Joseph, All Rights Reserved
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Who is K. Joseph?
(She is not Joe.) I write creative non-fiction stories on Medium to share change management insights, learn leadership principles, and grow together in our workspaces. Follow. Subscribe. Clap. Comment.
