Why a Business Change Professional is Key to Success of Your Change Programme
Transformation is inevitable in any organisation these days, business change is not going away anytime soon. Whether it’s driven by new technology, shifting market conditions, or internal restructuring. However, the success of these change programmes often hinges on one critical factor: user adoption. Studies consistently show that the majority of change initiatives fail to meet their objectives, with poor user adoption cited as a primary cause.
As everyone knows… According to research by McKinsey, approximately 70% of change programmes fail to achieve their goals, largely due to resistance from employees and lack of management support. This isn’t surprising when you consider that change can be disruptive, creating uncertainty and anxiety among staff. Without the right support and guidance, it’s easy for even the best-laid plans to falter.
This is where a Business Change professional becomes invaluable. These experts bring a deep understanding of both the technical and human aspects of change. They know that successful change isn’t just about rolling out new systems or processes—it’s about ensuring that people within the organisation are ready, willing, and able to embrace these changes.
Key Arguments for Hiring a Business Change Professional:
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Bridging the Gap Between Strategy and Execution:
Business Change professionals have the expertise to translate high-level strategies into actionable plans. They work closely with stakeholders at all levels to ensure that everyone is aligned with the goals of the change programme. This alignment is crucial for minimising resistance and ensuring smooth implementation.
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Enhancing Communication and Engagement:
Effective communication is at the heart of any successful change initiative. A Business Change professional ensures that communication is clear, consistent, and reaches all relevant parties. They create engagement strategies that help employees understand the benefits of the change and how it will affect their daily work. This, in turn, reduces resistance and fosters a culture of cooperation.
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Managing Resistance:
Change naturally breeds resistance. People are often comfortable with the status quo, and even positive changes can be met with hesitation. A Business Change professional is skilled in identifying potential areas of resistance and addressing them proactively. They work to understand the concerns of employees and provide the necessary support to ease the transition.
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Ensuring Sustainable Change:
It’s not enough to implement a change programme; the changes need to be sustainable. Business Change professionals focus on embedding new practices into the organisation’s culture, ensuring that the benefits of the change are realised long after the initial implementation phase. They also provide training and development to ensure that employees have the skills and knowledge to adapt to new systems or processes.
Case Study: Transforming HR and Finance Systems
At re:find, we’ve witnessed the difference a skilled Business Change professional can make. In one of our recent projects, a client was facing the challenge of overhauling their HR and Finance systems. The project was ambitious, with the potential to greatly improve efficiency and accuracy across the organisation. However, the success of this transformation depended on how well the new systems were adopted by the end users.
We brought in a Business Change professional who not only had the technical know-how but also the people skills to drive user adoption. This individual worked closely with both leadership and employees, ensuring that everyone was on board with the changes. The result was a seamless transition, with minimal disruption and a high level of engagement from staff. The new systems were fully adopted, leading to significant improvements in the organisation’s operations.
This case underscores the importance of having the right expertise on hand when managing complex change initiatives. The success of this project was not just due to the new technology, but to the careful management of the human side of change.
My Thoughts
In any change programme, the difference between success and failure often comes down to user adoption. By hiring a Business Change professional, organisations can significantly increase their chances of a successful outcome. These professionals bring the skills, experience, and insight needed to manage both the technical and human aspects of change, ensuring that new initiatives are embraced and sustained over the long term.
At re:find, we specialise in identifying and placing Business Change professionals who can make a real impact on your organisation. Whether you’re planning a major transformation or a smaller-scale change, we’re here to help you achieve your goals.
OUR FOCUS ON LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIPS
At re:find we have been in Executive Search for over 20 years. We believe that recruitment is not a one-off transaction but rather a long-term partnership. We aim to build long-term relationships with our clients, providing ongoing support and advice to help them find and retain the best talent for their organisation.
In addition, as a business, we understand that every organisation is unique and that there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to recruitment. That’s why we offer bespoke recruitment solutions that are tailored to meet the specific needs of each client. Whether you need help with a single hire or a full recruitment campaign, we can help.
We are committed to providing our clients with the highest quality service. As part of this, we ensure that we take the time to understand your organisation’s culture and values, as well as the specific skills and experience needed for each role.
For more information on our executive search practice and our CCS framework
please get in touch with our Managing Director, James Cumming.
