Another research on the critical factors that determine our performance. Although not as scientifically significant as the research of professor Gardner that I mentioned last week; Organizational Change Practitioner Jim Markowsky decided to ask his colleagues how they would define success.
He launched the question: “What is the single most important trait of a successful Organizational Change Consultant in today’s economy? Please only list one!“. From the 70+ responses he distilled the below list. Participants were members of the Organizational Change Practitioners group on LinkedIn – a group of over 5.000 global OCM professionals. Frequency shown in brackets:
1.(4) Agility – intellectual fleetness of foot; adapt on the fly; fluidity; adapt to internal and external environment; be as good at Plans B, C, D, E as Plan A.
2.(4) Listening – generative listening; discovery by listening and collaborative thinking; without it you cannot start the change journey; the client will tell you.
3.(3) Confidence – positive body language, building it with client; attitude and behavior.
4.(3) Facilitating – generative thinking with client to see possibilities; of collaborative learning process.
5.(2) Questioning – requiring client to see themselves as they are and as they want to be; asking the right payoff questions.
6.(2) Results – we are paid to produce; what the client is paying for.
7.(2) Systems Approach – wear systems glasses.
8.(2) Truthfulness – integrity; bring up the difficult issues
(1) All of the following:
9.Awareness
10.Billable
11.Chaos – comfort
12.Clarity – of focus
13.Communication – two way and ongoing
14.Conceptual and global thinking Dialogue – around tough and delicate issues
15.Directionally correct
16.Expectations – clarifying
17.Experience
18.Extraction – of salient points from client… reading between the lines
19.Faith
20.Flexibility
21.Gap analysis – utilization to implement needed changes
22.Influencing
23.Innovative solution – getting out of the safe zone
24.Integrity
25.Intentional – 100%, while radiating agility
26.Journey – preparation and setting expectations with client
27.Live and Practice Change – day in and day out
28.Observation – includes active listening
29.Opportunistic – there are opportunities during this downturn
30.Outcome – develop clear and concise with client
31.Patience
32.Perception
33.Persistence
34.Realism
35.Reflexivity – reflect and help client make sense of change
36.Saavy – navigation of the organization to get things implemented
37.Seeing – really seeing and not force-fitting
38.Sense-making – in complex situations
39.Synthesis – process and activity
40.Teamwork – collaboration
41.Tenacity – in the real value of the end state
42.Vision – ability to hold
43.Wisdom – to see the truth
