Why Is Change So Hard? (Part 2 of a 4 part series)

So goes the phrase: "If nothing changes, nothing changes."

According to John Kotter, (A Force For Change: How Leadership Differs from Management) there are eight reasons why change initiatives fail:

1. Too much complexity
2. Failure to building coalition and support
3. Not understanding the need for a clear vision
4. Failure to clearly communicate the vision
5. Permitting roadblocks and resistance to change
6. Not planning for short-term results, and not achieving them
7. Declaring victory too soon
8. Failure to institutionalize changes in organizational culture

What to do about them?

1. Establish a sense of urgency
2. Build coalition (buy-in and support) for the change initiative
3. Develop a clear vision
4. Share and communicate the vision
5. Empower people to clear the obstacles and roadblocks
6. Secure short-term wins
7. Keep moving ahead - stick with it
8. Anchor the changes within your culture