Send to KindleWhat To Do When the Change Really Was Wrong
I thought it was a brilliant idea, I’d weighed all the options, considered possible consequences, and examined the impact the change would have on the organization. Everything looked good. So I implemented the change and sat back to watch the amazing, positive transformation that would follow.
It didn’t. So, I naturally set about finding the people who were blocking the way so I could convince them that this really was a brilliant idea and just needed a little time to work.
I was wrong. What seemed brilliant in concept turned out to be less so in application. This is something that happens to all leaders. The question is, after you’ve just laid this colossal egg, what do you do next?
I suggest the following actions.
First admit that your attempt at improvement fell a little short of the mark. There’s an old saying that the first thing to do when you find yourself in a hole is to stop digging.
Next, do an honest analysis of what went wrong. Was the idea bad to start with? Did your implementation leave a little to be desired? Was the timing of the change bad?
Third, once you’ve done your own analysis, gather a few of your trusted team members and get their feedback on those questions. This can be a little painful, but that you asked for their opinions will go a long way towards success in the next step.
Finally, decide whether to try again. It’s very possible that you were on the right track, but your idea needed a little adjustment. The input from your team may well answer that question and since you asked for their thoughts, they’ll be much more likely to support your next attempt.
Change doesn’t always work out but don’t stop trying. Learn from what happened and move on.
