Speeding Organizational Change

You can speed organizational change if you understand the 20/20/60 rule:

- 20% of your work force are high performers. they're self-managed, inner-directed and pleased to follow the rules when they can, but will break them when they must.
- 20% will resist change no matter what you do.
- 60% want to be told what to do. Believeing in something is important to them. And here's the key: these employees are MOVALBE. They're willing to emulate your top performers...or your bottom performers. Your challenge is to encourage this "movable majority" to see your top performers as their role models. Here's how to do it:

-Identify your top 20%. High performers don't necessarily hold top jobs and are often unrecognized (see "Complainers vs. Challengers" in this section of the Library). Identifying them will also reduce the risk of losing them or (almost as bad), having them lose their motivation.
Culitivate their loyalty. Nurture and talk to your top performers. Let them know you value their contribution. Give them special treatment. If they become dispirited, assure them that change is coming.
Remove performance constraints. Find out what obstacles prevent your top performers from doing their best work and get rid of them.
Praise them publicly. Because they're inner-directed, your top 20% don't particularly need accolades. But your middle 60% need to know who their role models are, and public recognition makes that clear.

For more information on this topic, see our Product Store for "eleadership" by Sysan Annunzio