This week’s riff: I’m not making a political point when I say that the UK’s approach to the Brexit negotiations looks pretty shambolic. Over a year on from the referendum vote to leave the EU and it’s still not clear what the UK government actually want from the negotiations. While ministers say that they need to keep their cards close to the chest, I’m still not sure they’re holding any aces or have simply dealt themselves a hand of jokers!
So, what can we learn from the situation? Well, Brexit actually provides us with some clear change management lessons.
Specifically, if you intend to deliver any level of organizational change, you must first ensure that three factors are in place: (1) Dissatisfaction with the current situation; (2) A clear vision of the future; and (3) Clarity on the initial action steps required to deliver your desired change.
With respect to Brexit, there was clearly dissatisfaction with the current situation, which is why there was a small majority vote to leave, but there does not seem to be any clear vision of the future or clarity on the steps to getting there. Until the government makes progress on these two fronts, it is likely that resistance to any new negotiated deal will increase.
Why not review your own major change initiatives? In particular, where they are struggling, which of the three key factors are missing, and what do you need to do to get the initiative back on track?
Off The Record: Changes by David Bowie
I still don’t know what I was waiting for
And my time was running wild
A million dead-end streets
Every time I thought I’d got it made
It seemed the taste was not so sweet
© Stuart Cross 2017. All rights reserved.