Change Management: How Organizations Really Transform

Changing how a company works is like moving a big, living tree to a new garden. You can’t just pull it out and drop it somewhere else. You need to carefully prepare the ground, protect the roots, and give it the right care to survive.

Where Change Management Comes From

This idea started in the 1950s when smart researchers realized most big company changes were failing. Even with perfect technical plans, something was missing. By the 1990s, experts like John Kotter figured out why: companies were forgetting about the people.

A Real-World Example

Standard Bank in South Africa tried to update their entire banking system. At first, people resisted. But when they:

• Explained why the change mattered
• Trained 12,000 staff slowly and carefully
• Created internal team members who supported the change

They got 94% of staff on board in just six months. Most companies only get 60% in the same time.

How Successful Change Really Works

1. Create Real Urgency

Companies that explain WHY change is needed see 40% better results. MTN leadership clearly showed why old ways of working would fail.

2. Get Everyone Involved

Changes work best when the people affected help plan them:

• Top-down changes succeed only 30% of the time
• Changes with team input succeed 80% of the time

3. Build New Skills

Smart companies spend 15% of their project budget on training and support. These companies see 65% better results than those just buying new technology.

What Makes Changes Fail

Changes stop working when:

• Leaders stop believing in the change
• The reason for changing isn’t real
• Changes happen too fast for people to keep up

The Human Side of Change

William Bridges, another expert, discovered something important: Change is what happens outside (like getting new computers), but transition is what happens inside people’s minds.

Most people think when someone resists a change, they’re being difficult or lazy. But research shows resistance usually means:

• People have real concerns
• The change might not be explained well
• The impact hasn’t been fully understood

How Everything Connects

Think of an organization like a complex machine. When you change one part, you need to adjust all the connected pieces to keep everything working smoothly.

The Real Secret

Successful change isn’t about the technology. It’s about understanding people, their fears, their hopes, and how they actually work together.

Quick Lessons

• Explain the “why” clearly
• Involve your team from the start
• Go slow enough for everyone to understand
• Support people through the change
• Remember that people are more important than perfect plans

The most advanced technology fails if the human part of the change doesn’t work. The best changes happen when technology and people move forward together.

Till next time🫡

Mpho