Change Management - 14 August 2007

A common myth is that employees dislike change - but we only need to look at the eagerness in which people embrace changes in fashion and technology to know that people actually love change. They dislike it at work simply because it's implemented so badly that it turns employees into cynics. Mother Nature, through the metamorphosis of a caterpillar to a butterfly, demonstrates how we can better manage change. A butterfly passes through four main stages in its life cycle. 1st stage: A silkworm lays its eggs on a special plant so that a baby worm is born into the right environment, thereby enabling it to start eating the right leaf straight away. Likewise, our first step is to create the right environment.

This means convincing employees that the status quo must change because it's causing pain, whereas the proposed change will bring pleasure.

2nd stage: The worm eats lots of plants until it grows into a caterpillar with six main legs and a number of smaller legs for support. The 'food' to feed your change project is your team's feedback. Seek it, listen to it, and use it. And just like the caterpillar's many legs, your project needs the involvement of many employees at every stage to gain their commitment.

3rd stage: The caterpillar spins a cocoon around itself to protect it from the elements. Protect your employees from any possible negative consequences by ensuring they're well trained and totally prepared for the different ways in which they'll work. Ask them what they'll need to make the transition a smooth one - and give it to them.

4th stage: With the full transformation to a butterfly complete, the cocoon cracks open, and the newly emerged butterfly is free to roam the skies. Your change project is now also able to spread its wings and be accepted.

Out of the 500 eggs that a silkworm lays, very few make it through to the butterfly stage. By creating the right environment, seeking feedback, getting your staff involved, and offering protection, you'll avoid a similar statistic in your workplace.

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