According to a new report featuring insights from business leaders, effective and lasting culture change generally follows a three-step process:
- Start at the beginning. Don’t jump into change without a realistic view of where you are. To do this, implement a listening strategy to understand what culture is and how it is viewed throughout the organization. Have a plan in place to measure and monitor progress of your culture renovation before beginning to build it.
- Build the change. This isn’t only about culture change; it also involves identifying skeptics and establishing a “co-creation mindset.” The study found a relationship between companies that invest in training at all levels and the organization’s ability to embrace the desired behaviors.
- Maintain the change. This is often ignored, said the study; and this is the most common reason that culture change fails. Help maintain your new/renovated culture via efforts such as talent-management practices, onboarding, and performance-management strategies.
The most effective organizations, the study suggests, view change as normal and expected, as well as an opportunity to expand into new markets and successfully embrace innovation.
