It’s that time of year again in America, spring break time. When everyone takes a break from the cold and goes on a little vacation because their kids get a week off from school. It’s a great time for me to take a break from my usual as well. Normally I talk about data and its various aspects but something has really grabbed my attention lately. That’s the need for change in the corporate world. It’s not just an American thing either, it’s going on in China, Australia, Russia, the EU, Brazil, you name it. What is it? The need for “change.”

I am quite blessed that I get to talk to many companies and get interviewed to help companies to make changes. Although I don’t like the term change agent, it is a term that most know. Lately I have been approached by a few companies and recruiter for roles in those companies looking for change. Life changes, it is the only constant we have. And for a variety of reasons, companies stop changing and then go looking for someone like me who has created change in the past. Now I love my work, it is fun and rewarding. Creation of new ideas and making them a reality is probably the most fun I can have and it is great that I get paid for it too! But I want to point out that it isn’t always fun. Sometimes I run in a wall of change but not change. Companies know they need to change but they don’t really want to change. And this can be solved with a few simple things I would like to cover here.

Change is Not Easy

I have worked in a number of companies and different industries. I know that many people don’t like change because often past experience have been negative. But when the opportunity for change comes along, it doesn’t have to be like watching a bull in a china shop. Change, when done right, can be a very exciting and fulfilling experience for leadership and employees alike. Too often I see leadership talking positive to the team and then thinking about who gets laid off. Nobody gets fooled by that.

Be honest, be open and most importantly, be engaging. This is a journey and a great leader knows they must bring in the team, not some outside consulting firm to do the work and come up with some change management process. The best change is done from the inside and led from the inside.

Change Means You Too C-suite

Recently a few companies have approached me and talked about changing their team because, Amazon or something similar. They want to go in a different direction yet the leadership doesn’t actually want to do any changing themselves. Sorry guys, but the ones that really need the most changing is often at the top. Who makes the decisions that impacts the whole company? Change always needs to be from the top, change yourself and become friends with change.

Don’t Hire the Same Person!

This one always makes me roll my eyes. A company wants change, they want someone who can bring in real change and stir up the company and the industry. So, what do they do, hire someone who is an industry insider. Honestly, how much change do you really think will happen. Hey, I got coffee with one sugar instead of two, check me out, I’m being all cool and innovative right? No.

I don’t deny that industry experience is important, it is! However, when you want change and disruption to take place, someone who has done it different at your competitor is not going to give you that, they will give you a coffee with a little less sugar in it when you really wanted a totally different drink all together.

Change is About People

I always find it interesting how everyone is so focused on tech as the change. Data is about human activities. Tools are meaningless, they change all the time. Fundamentals of how people engage technology and other people to create data is far more important. Can your people talk personas? Can they talk about the fundamentals of data: Uncanny valleys, day parting, Aspect to Aspect? No, they you need a different change agent!

Change is a great thing for a company. Make sure you get the right person to make changes. That starts with your leadership. Stop chasing the fads and go for real substance change. It is a far more rewarding journey.