Influence Organizational Change For Good
Influence Organizational Change For Good
Influence Organizational Change For Good
Influence Organizational Change For Good
What changes need to be made to your organization? Making major changes within an organization is incredibly difficult and most companies struggle to know what to do next to create lasting positive change.
She was the most impactful person at the office, even though she had not been tasked with managing or leading anyone. She cared for her coworkers more than some of them cared for themselves. She was curious and compassionate — always asking about people's lives and interests. She would often stop important work she was doing to serve the needs of a coworker. She radiated with optimism. Everyone looked to her to know what to do next when the company was going through major changes.
He was in charge of the entire company, but you would ever know it by the way he interacted with everyone in the building. The organization was enormous, but his priorities and personal demeanor communicated that he cared more about the people than the success of the organization. He helped foster a culture where everyone felt they belonged and made a difference — everyone — from first year intern to the executive team. His humility and childlike hope in the future was infectious. When it came time for the company to make major changes, everyone trusted in his leadership.
Who do you look to in your organization when there is significant market disruption and major changes need to be made? Who in your organization looks to you when things are chaotic and a major change is needed?
Making major changes within an organization is incredibly difficult and most companies struggle to know what to do next to create lasting positive change. According to McKinsey Global Research, companies that are able to successfully transform and respond to changing market demands understand how to change organizational mindsets and behavior. “In both research and practice, we find that transformations stand the best chance of success when they focus on four key actions to change mind-sets and behavior.” McKinsey has labeled the four key actions as the ‘Influence Model’.
McKinsey’s Influence Model
The Distinct Advantage
McKinsey’s Influence Model is incredibly helpful to guide our organizations in change, and followers of Jesus have an even more distinct advantage when it comes to influencing organizational change. For all who follow Jesus, the ultimate goal of their influence is for others to know, experience, and be changed by the love of Christ.
The additional good news of their advantage is they know people can come to know they are loved by Jesus in good times and bad. Followers of Jesus know environmental change — like turbulence in the marketplace, the community, or the company — can cause people to reevaluate where they put their trust. Influencers who follow Jesus stand ready to help people with their presenting needs during times of dramatic change and therefore are ready to help them with what they need most — to trust Jesus.
All wisdom comes from God because all people are made by God. Take a look at McKinsey’s Influence Model alongside the very words of Jesus and see how to enable the most meaningful change for those you love and lead.
Fostering Understanding and Conviction
- “People seek congruence between their beliefs and actions — believing in the "why" inspires them to behave in support of a change.” - McKinsey
- “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” - John 12:24-26
No leader in the history of the world had more congruence between their beliefs and actions than Jesus Christ. His actions to save the world led to His death — death on a cross — in order for us to experience life abundantly (John 10:10). Jesus tells His followers to have this same congruence between our belief and actions. When we do this, we are trustworthy and winsome as we stand ready to care for others in their time of need.
Reinforcing with Formal Mechanisms
- “Associations and consequences shape behavior — though all too often organizations reinforce the wrong things.” - McKinsey
- “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” - John 15:5-7
Jesus provides more than a metaphor when He tells us that He is the vine. He goes on to explain that without being connected to Him we can do nothing. This means all of our work, leadership, and influence is worthless if the source of what we are doing is not coming from Him. Connected to Him we can do anything. We can help anyone change. With Jesus, entire organizations can change to better serve their customers and to better trust and glorify their God.
Developing Talent and Skills
- “You can teach an old dog new tricks — our brains remain plastic into adulthood.” - McKinsey
- “But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” - Luke 19:8-10
Jesus does not leave anyone as they are — takers become givers and doubters become witnesses. His followers can heal the lame and restore sight to the blind. No one is too old or too inexperienced in the eyes of Jesus. We realize our gifts come from Jesus and the highest and best use of our gifts is to help others know and trust God.
Role Modeling
- “People mimic individuals and groups who surround them — sometimes consciously and sometimes unconsciously.” - McKinsey
- “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” - Matthew 5:14-16
Jesus is life and He causes light to shine in all of His followers. This allows us to be the best role models in good times and in bad times. We have the light of Jesus inside us for the explicit purpose of letting it shine on others. We should not hide it and there is rarely a reason to delay letting it shine on those who need it most. Our light invites others to see what is good and to have a safe resource to guide them.
This mashup of some of McKinsey’s best writers and thinkers along with the very source of wisdom — Jesus — allows us to help our organizations and colleagues change. The wisdom, love, and light of Jesus allows us to understand the very purpose of change and influence others for lasting good.
Resources
She was the most impactful person at the office, even though she had not been tasked with managing or leading anyone. She cared for her coworkers more than some of them cared for themselves. She was curious and compassionate — always asking about people's lives and interests. She would often stop important work she was doing to serve the needs of a coworker. She radiated with optimism. Everyone looked to her to know what to do next when the company was going through major changes.
He was in charge of the entire company, but you would ever know it by the way he interacted with everyone in the building. The organization was enormous, but his priorities and personal demeanor communicated that he cared more about the people than the success of the organization. He helped foster a culture where everyone felt they belonged and made a difference — everyone — from first year intern to the executive team. His humility and childlike hope in the future was infectious. When it came time for the company to make major changes, everyone trusted in his leadership.
Who do you look to in your organization when there is significant market disruption and major changes need to be made? Who in your organization looks to you when things are chaotic and a major change is needed?
Making major changes within an organization is incredibly difficult and most companies struggle to know what to do next to create lasting positive change. According to McKinsey Global Research, companies that are able to successfully transform and respond to changing market demands understand how to change organizational mindsets and behavior. “In both research and practice, we find that transformations stand the best chance of success when they focus on four key actions to change mind-sets and behavior.” McKinsey has labeled the four key actions as the ‘Influence Model’.
McKinsey’s Influence Model
The Distinct Advantage
McKinsey’s Influence Model is incredibly helpful to guide our organizations in change, and followers of Jesus have an even more distinct advantage when it comes to influencing organizational change. For all who follow Jesus, the ultimate goal of their influence is for others to know, experience, and be changed by the love of Christ.
The additional good news of their advantage is they know people can come to know they are loved by Jesus in good times and bad. Followers of Jesus know environmental change — like turbulence in the marketplace, the community, or the company — can cause people to reevaluate where they put their trust. Influencers who follow Jesus stand ready to help people with their presenting needs during times of dramatic change and therefore are ready to help them with what they need most — to trust Jesus.
All wisdom comes from God because all people are made by God. Take a look at McKinsey’s Influence Model alongside the very words of Jesus and see how to enable the most meaningful change for those you love and lead.
Fostering Understanding and Conviction
- “People seek congruence between their beliefs and actions — believing in the "why" inspires them to behave in support of a change.” - McKinsey
- “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” - John 12:24-26
No leader in the history of the world had more congruence between their beliefs and actions than Jesus Christ. His actions to save the world led to His death — death on a cross — in order for us to experience life abundantly (John 10:10). Jesus tells His followers to have this same congruence between our belief and actions. When we do this, we are trustworthy and winsome as we stand ready to care for others in their time of need.
Reinforcing with Formal Mechanisms
- “Associations and consequences shape behavior — though all too often organizations reinforce the wrong things.” - McKinsey
- “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” - John 15:5-7
Jesus provides more than a metaphor when He tells us that He is the vine. He goes on to explain that without being connected to Him we can do nothing. This means all of our work, leadership, and influence is worthless if the source of what we are doing is not coming from Him. Connected to Him we can do anything. We can help anyone change. With Jesus, entire organizations can change to better serve their customers and to better trust and glorify their God.
Developing Talent and Skills
- “You can teach an old dog new tricks — our brains remain plastic into adulthood.” - McKinsey
- “But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” - Luke 19:8-10
Jesus does not leave anyone as they are — takers become givers and doubters become witnesses. His followers can heal the lame and restore sight to the blind. No one is too old or too inexperienced in the eyes of Jesus. We realize our gifts come from Jesus and the highest and best use of our gifts is to help others know and trust God.
Role Modeling
- “People mimic individuals and groups who surround them — sometimes consciously and sometimes unconsciously.” - McKinsey
- “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” - Matthew 5:14-16
Jesus is life and He causes light to shine in all of His followers. This allows us to be the best role models in good times and in bad times. We have the light of Jesus inside us for the explicit purpose of letting it shine on others. We should not hide it and there is rarely a reason to delay letting it shine on those who need it most. Our light invites others to see what is good and to have a safe resource to guide them.
This mashup of some of McKinsey’s best writers and thinkers along with the very source of wisdom — Jesus — allows us to help our organizations and colleagues change. The wisdom, love, and light of Jesus allows us to understand the very purpose of change and influence others for lasting good.
Resources