Are you using the right tools for Change in your organization?
Recent headlines in India are all about two leaders (Baba Ramdev and Anna Hazare) trying to bring about changes in the law to rule out corruption.
Both the leaders used moral virtue as a platform to highlight the social evil of corruption in government.
Both leaders adopted non-violent hunger strike - the same technique efffectively used by Mahatma Gandhi when fighting for Indian Independence- to force the government to pass laws banning corruption and bring senior leaders under that law. They are barely successful in their efforts.
You can pass laws, but you cannot make individuals change their behavior unless positive change is recognized, encouraged and celebrated.
How does the business world do this
Businesses try to bring about change in their organizations every day -to be more competitive, to increase customer service, to perform operations faster, to innovate and perform the same tasks at a lower cost.
In corporations, employees are provided incentives when they adopt the desired behavior. They are encouraged collectively and individual successes are celebrated when behavioral changes occur and desired results are demonstrated.
I have seen many change efforts in companies, which invested millions in systems, not investing enough thought and efforts in encouraging change in behavior in their teams.
So the two leaders might learn something from this. They may ultimately succeed in getting the law passed. They will celebrate a momentary triumph. Ultimate and lasting change in corrupt behavior will occur when they spread the culture of integrity, passion for people doing their jobs for salary without demanding a bribe.
Successful campaigns for change adopt a very personal story ( a specific individual or a specific event) that touches emotions of love, hunger and values family, community etc.
None of the campaigns that I have read about these two leaders touch on these aspects of change.
What are your observations on change and how did you succeed in deploying a change in behavior in your organization?
Recent headlines in India are all about two leaders (Baba Ramdev and Anna Hazare) trying to bring about changes in the law to rule out corruption.
Both the leaders used moral virtue as a platform to highlight the social evil of corruption in government.
Both leaders adopted non-violent hunger strike - the same technique efffectively used by Mahatma Gandhi when fighting for Indian Independence- to force the government to pass laws banning corruption and bring senior leaders under that law. They are barely successful in their efforts.
You can pass laws, but you cannot make individuals change their behavior unless positive change is recognized, encouraged and celebrated.
How does the business world do this
Businesses try to bring about change in their organizations every day -to be more competitive, to increase customer service, to perform operations faster, to innovate and perform the same tasks at a lower cost.
In corporations, employees are provided incentives when they adopt the desired behavior. They are encouraged collectively and individual successes are celebrated when behavioral changes occur and desired results are demonstrated.
I have seen many change efforts in companies, which invested millions in systems, not investing enough thought and efforts in encouraging change in behavior in their teams.
So the two leaders might learn something from this. They may ultimately succeed in getting the law passed. They will celebrate a momentary triumph. Ultimate and lasting change in corrupt behavior will occur when they spread the culture of integrity, passion for people doing their jobs for salary without demanding a bribe.
Successful campaigns for change adopt a very personal story ( a specific individual or a specific event) that touches emotions of love, hunger and values family, community etc.
None of the campaigns that I have read about these two leaders touch on these aspects of change.
What are your observations on change and how did you succeed in deploying a change in behavior in your organization?
