25 Change Management Best

Practices
By
Jim Markowsky
President & Principal Consultant

XFactor Solutions LLC

Think. Collaborate. Innovate.

Copyright , 2010 X-Factor Solutions LLC www.x-factor-solutions.com

About the 25 Change Management Best

Practices
These best practices have been created as a result
of:
20+ years of change management consulting experience.
Lessons learned after several change management
projects.
Ongoing discussion and learning from change
management practitioners and clients.
Extensive reading and research on the topic.

Copyright , 2010 X-Factor Solutions LLC www.x-factor-solutions.com

25 Change Management Best Practices

1-5
1. Visible, engaged and supportive senior leadership.
2. Clear communication is critical: 1.) clarity of vision, 2.)
clarity of the business need and 3.) clarity of what
action steps are required to be successful.
3. Getting employees engaged in the change - town hall
meetings, knowledge sessions, brown bag seminars,
labs, road shows, kiosks, etc.
4. Cascading managerial support and engagement.
5. Ensuring that leadership behaviors support the
desired future state.
Copyright , 2010 X-Factor Solutions LLC www.x-factor-solutions.com

25 Change Management Best Practices

6 - 10
6. Use of Super Users and Subject Matter Experts as
"good will ambassadors".
7. Having change agents strategically placed and
prepared.
8. Supportive mentoring of employees by supervisors
and managers.
9. Involving mid-managers is critical. They can often be
disconnected or neutral about the change.
10. Create a reinforcement strategy to ensure the desired
behaviors and changes are made.
Copyright , 2010 X-Factor Solutions LLC www.x-factor-solutions.com

25 Change Management Best Practices

11 - 15
11. Established realistic and attainable goals.
12. Phased-in the implementation - don't try to do too
much at once.
13. Don't underestimate people's need to understand the
future state.
14. Establish a process for identifying and resolving
risks/issues.
15. Ensure an effective people-sensitive project manager
is in place.
Copyright , 2010 X-Factor Solutions LLC www.x-factor-solutions.com

25 Change Management Best Practices

16 - 20
16. Conduct "local" change impact assessments.
17. Ensure that transformation solutions can be implemented
and sustained.
18. The changes should add value for impacted employees:
"easier to do my job, can do things that I could not do
before, etc.
19. Win support at ALL key levels: executive, middle
management and functional leaders, front-line supervisors
and workers.
20. Prepare a solid plan of the whole transition. Major risks
need to be identified, analyzed and mitigated.
Copyright , 2010 X-Factor Solutions LLC www.x-factor-solutions.com

25 Change Management Best Practices

21 - 25
21. Get the business and key external stakeholders
involved early on.
22. Ensure simple, clear messages are communicated.
23. Listen, listen and listen to those affected.
24. Reward the right behaviors.
25. Create short-term wins and elebrate the successes.
Best wishes with your change initiatives.
Let me know if I can assist you in any way.
Jim Markowsky
jcm@x-factor-solutions.com
Copyright , 2010 X-Factor Solutions LLC www.x-factor-solutions.com