The Importance of Creating a Sense of Urgency in Major Changes

Key Tip

• Always start a major change by creating a sense of urgency.
  • This applies to mergers, reorganizations, culture changes, etc.
  • Reduce complacency and other negative feelings such as anxiety and anger.

Why It's Important

• Common Mistake:
  • Many do not start with urgency and fail:
    • 90% of significant changes do not meet original aspirations.
    • 20-30% are complete failures, requiring abandonment or restarting.
• Successful Cases:
  • The 10% of cases that do succeed started with creating urgency.
  • They communicate the need for change and reduce complacency.

What People Often Do Instead

• Task Force Initiatives:
  • Assign a task force with a mission or hire consultants to develop solutions.
  • Often done with secrecy to avoid worrying staff or impacting stock prices.

Problems Without Urgency

• Lack of Foundation:
  • Urgency is foundational for lasting change; without it, efforts are temporary.
  • Difficulty in pulling people into the change team.
  • Information gathering and strategy communication suffer.
• Complacency Issues:
  • People do not understand the need for change.
  • Brilliant strategies fail if not understood or prioritized.
  • Key team members may neglect tasks due to lack of perceived urgency.

Conclusion

• Understanding the Need for Urgency:
  • Recognizing and addressing urgency can prevent common failures in major change efforts.
  • Ensures that strategic initiatives are understood, prioritized, and executed effectively.