By Ralph A. Dise, Jr.
I speak with business leaders every day, and everyone says they want change, but few move beyond lip service because few really know how to effect positive change.
That’s a shame—because as a leader—there is nothing more important you can do than to lead—to purposefully orchestrate organizational change.
Inertia is another major roadblock—the power of old habits that don’t want to die.
Unfortunately the future of companies and entire communities hang in the balance where change is necessary for survival. Many of the ways we’ve been trained to bring about change don’t work because they’re too complicated, and they rely on top-down communications that has proven time and again to be ineffective.
Introducing “Influencer”
Influencer is a groundbreaking methodology for managing organizational change. Based on years of observation and research, it was developed by some of the brightest minds in organizational development, and…it works.
Years of Influencer research has revealed a simple formula:
- Clarify measurable results
- Identify one or two key vital behaviors you wish to change
- Diagnose why these behaviors are not happening, and then
- Marshal four more sources of influence to overwhelm the “overwhelming” problems that will lead to the results you are seeking.
| Motivation | Ability | |
| Personal | Make change desirable | Practice change |
| Social | Influence your peers | Provide resources and education |
| Structural | Provide incentives | Create cues and reminders |
The Six Sources of Influence
The Six Sources of Influence are personal, social, and structural—and are affected by individual as well as collective motivation and ability (simplified above).
The beauty of Influencer is that it’s simple and accessible. You can clearly see this in action in the video case study: “All Washed Up”.
It’s so simple kids can do it!
| Motivation | Ability | |
| Personal | Don’t want to do it | Can’t do it |
| Social | My friend didn’t do it | Can’t do it alone |
| Structural | Nothing in it for me | Forgot to do it |
“All Washed Up”: The Problem
Be sure to watch this video. You’ll see that 2 or 3 sources of influence alone are not effective. Once you overwhelm the group with four or more sources of influence, then change miraculously happens!
This is just one example of many. The possibilities for effecting positive change are limitless!
| Motivation | Ability | |
| Personal | Didn’t want to get sick | It was easy |
| Social | My friends did it | We all did it together |
| Structural | I got a cupcake | There was a sign reminding me |
“All Washed Up”: The Solution
What’s the bottom line? Influencer works. It’s simple, accessible, and proven. Every person, every organization should be learning how Influencer can be used to drive rapid and sustainable change.
Something to think about: “If you could wave a magic wand, what are one or two behaviors that–if you were successful in changing them–would completely transform your business?”
For more information about Influencer, including a free self-assessment you can find them at Kurt Southam’s website at www.southamconsulting.net.
Ralph A. Dise, Jr. is the President of Dise & Company, the Director Emeritus of Lincolnshire International, and has worked in the field of Human Resources his entire career. You can contact Ralph directly at the Pro People Page on Diseco.com.