Newsletter #11 - Decades of Discovery: What I Wish I Knew When I Started
Decades of Discovery: What I Wish I Knew When I Started (5 min.)
Shape your future with a few reflections from decades of change management experience.
Bottom Line Up Front
🌍 Cultivate curiosity and understand diverse organizational cultures.
🤝 Build strong personal connections and communicate clearly.
🛠️ Develop a broad, versatile skill set across corporate functions and in a variety of technologies.
❤️ Lead with empathy and integrity in impactful projects.
Today, I'm sharing some personal reflections that could benefit anyone at the start of their career, especially those embarking on the challenging yet rewarding change management path. Drawing from nearly three decades of experience, I've gathered insights that have shaped my approach and sustained my passion for driving transformative change across global industries.
Cultivate a Curious Mindset and Understand Organizational Culture
Embracing a global perspective and continually seeking to learn about new strategies, technologies, and methodologies have been crucial. Understanding the unique cultural fabric of each organization is essential for facilitating effective change. For instance, while working on a project to develop a door-to-door sales team in Chile, we adapted practices that had been successful in Mexico from a model initially proven in the USA. Our technology team was based in Australia, with the software development team in India, showcasing the need for a curious and adaptable approach to effectively manage such a diverse and global project.
Key Takeaways:
- Continuously expand your knowledge base and understanding of different cultural contexts.
- A curious mindset enables you to anticipate shifts and adapt strategies accordingly.
Questions to Consider:
- How do you currently seek out learning opportunities within your field?
- In what ways do you engage with and respect diverse organizational cultures?
Build Genuine One-on-One Relationships and Prioritize Effective Communication
Building personal connections and ensuring clear, transparent communication are indispensable in change management. These relationships can make or break the success of a change initiative. A poignant example from my career involved an ERP project. The client lead requested that my boss exit the project yet asked that I stay on. This scenario underlined the importance of personal connections, as my boss remained responsible for the outcomes but had to work through me due to the client's preference.
Key Takeaways:
- Solid and trust-based relationships are foundational to successful change management.
- Effective communication is critical to managing expectations and fostering openness.
Questions to Consider:
- What strategies have you found effective in building lasting professional relationships?
- How do you ensure your communication is clear and inclusive in complex projects?
Develop Robust Competencies in Diverse Areas
Acquiring a versatile skill set in business process design, training development, and end-user adoption is critical to managing change effectively. My experience spans system integration projects using waterfall and agile methodologies across HR, finance, supply chain, sales, and IT, making me conversant in critical concepts and terms across these domains. This breadth of knowledge has been invaluable in effectively leading complex initiatives.
Key Takeaways:
- Diversifying your expertise prepares you to handle a wide range of challenges.
- In-depth knowledge in multiple areas enhances your strategic and operational effectiveness.
Questions to Consider:
- Which areas of change management require further development in your skill set?
- How do you stay updated with new tools and methodologies in the industry?
Lead with Empathy and Integrity
Leading with empathy and integrity has profoundly influenced my professional relationships and the success of my projects. My work often involves organizational changes that significantly impact people's lives, requiring a thoughtful and ethical approach to ensure care and respect.
Key Takeaways:
- Empathy and integrity are critical for ethical leadership and effective change management.
- Understanding and addressing the human side of change is crucial for project success.
Questions to Consider:
- How do you practice empathy in your leadership style?
- Can you share an example where integrity was crucial to a project's outcome?
Conclusion
These experiences remind me that change management is a continuous journey—not just for the organizations we assist but also for ourselves as professionals. I encourage you to consider these lessons as you move forward in your career.
Thank you for taking the time to read about my journey. I am eager to hear about your experiences and how you've navigated your paths in change management. Together, let's continue to learn, grow, and transform.
Miguel Guevara
When you are ready, I can help you in three ways:
📞Book a 1:1 Planning call with me (Miguel)
👀 Follow me (Miguel) on LinkedIn
🎥 Take our free Change Management Fundamentals for Project Managers Course
I help business leaders deliver complex projects and write about how to:
- Navigate difficult changes confidently using battle-tested strategies to plan, implement, and win.
- Lead resilient teams by building change management skills and strategies to facilitate change and thrive.
- Reduce risk and boost outcomes using a simple and proven change management framework.
- Excel in your role by gaining insider perspectives and powerful strategies about the corporate world.
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