A Change Campaign

I recently read these words from Rosabeth Moss Kanter, management expert and Harvard professor, in Harvard Business Review:
 
“Change is a campaign, not a decision…CEOs and senior executives make pronouncements about change all the time, and then launch programs that get ignored. To change behavior requires a campaign, with constant communication, tools and materials, milestones, reminders, and rewards.”
 
We tend to understand this concept when applied to making change in society or organizations. To change America’s eating habits or improve education or overhaul company culture— we know, we can’t just decide to do it. We need a campaign — a multi-faceted effort that happens over time – to raise awareness, reward new behaviors, and put new structures in place.
 
But when it comes to personal change, we tend to miss this concept. We’ve been taught that if we are self-disciplined enough, passionate enough, strong enough — then we can just 1) decide to change, 2) create a plan, and 3) get to it!
 
When things don’t work out, we blame ourselves: we “slacked off,” or we “couldn’t keep it up.” We feel like failures.
 
What would it be like if the next time you wanted to make a change in your life, you thought of it as launching a comprehensive campaign for the change?
 
What does a campaign to quit sugar look like? Or a campaign to become less driven by fear? A campaign to be more patient with your children?
 
It encompasses:
· A clear and compelling message about why you are making the change and what’s important about it – and the more that message has vivid stories, imagery, metaphor – the better.
· Powerful reminders along the way, especially Kanter says, things that “nudge” us in the right direction at the point of choice
· Sources of inspiration to sustain motivatation
· Fun celebrations of milestones and rewards for effort
· Mentors, advisors, information resources – a set of collaborators and partners, Kanter says
· Models of people who have done the same
· What else? You add to this list. Design your campaign.
 
The part of you that wants to change a behavior is just one part of you. Think of that part as “the CEO of the company of you.” Like a CEO, that part can declare whatever the hell it wants — but it won’t get very good results unless it devises ways to change the whole system.
 
Every part of you needs to be brought along to change. Think about the different parts of you — they are like the stakeholders groups inside of the “company of you.” Allow them all to be a part of crafting the change campaign. What does the scared part of you need to make this work? What about the part that just wants to have fun? What about the compulsive/perfectionistic part? Listen for each of these voices, give them a space to be heard and ask them what they need.
 
It does take more effort to put a campaign in place; it’s not as easy as declaring to yourself, “I will not overeat anymore!” or “I will not procrastinate!” But then again, doing that never worked anyway, did it?

Love,

Tara