Adopting Six Disciplines and Organizational Change

What's it like for an organization just starting to adopt the Six Disciplines progam?

Coaches at each local Six Disciplines Leadership Center recommend the following to all new organizations that are just beginning to use Six Disciplines:

• Let go of what no longer works. Recognize the fundamental truth in: “If we do what we’ve always done, we’ll get what we always got.” Take time to decide what the next level looks like and be willing to give up what isn't working. When we stop doing what doesn't work for us, we can start doing more of what can work for us. Good habits can replace bad habits.
• Change what you can. Put your action items in writing about what you would like to see and experience differently in your business and begin to take action. The Six Disciplines Activity Management System also becomes your document management system for change.
• Change your thinking. What we say to ourselves is our reality. If we say, "I can't" then it won't happen. When you find yourself saying things like, "I can't," simply change your words to "How can I?" Work with your Six Disciplines Leadership Center Coach to uncover areas within your business that lead you to asking the question: "How can I?..."
• Make a commitment. Commitments are powerful and can help you stay on track with what you are pursuing. From the Mission, Vision, Values and Strategic Position Statements -- to the Organizational Goals, Initiatives, and all the way down to the Individual Plans -- your Six Disciplines Activity Management System enables you to document your commitment - to yourself and to your organization. Six Disciplines Leadership Centers help you to stay on track - and to keep those commitments.
• Be patient with the process. Allow change to take place over time. You may become impatient when you know what you want, are taking action to achieve it, and it's not happening… yet. Things take time. Achieving lasting excellence is not a one-time event. It is a long-term process. Trust time. Be willing to learn what you need to learn - and what your organization needs to learn -- while waiting for change to manifest into what you desire.
• Be willing to take risks. Being willing to try new things and experience the discomfort and excitement of newness is important in moving to a new level. Risk taking is part of growing and changing. If you take risks in small ways, you can learn to take risks in all ways. Risk taking is a learned skill that can be developed over time.

BOTTOMLINE: Like any business improvement method, the Six Disciplines program is a catalyst for organizational change. Unlike other methods and approaches, Six Disciplines is the first complete business excellence program for small and mid-sized businesses - that is optimized for execution. Intrigued? Read the top-rated book Six Disciplines for Excellence.