Today I want to introduce to the eight step change model. At some point on our journey through life we’re going to want to make changes. Alas that’s where the problems start, because many of you don’t know how to do it. To help you let me show you the eight step change model. It provides you a process that helps you to make change happen successfully.
I’m going to start with a question today, maybe two of them.
Are you willing to accept how things are for you?
Will you allow things to stay as they are, or even to get worse, or are you determined to fight and get back a future worth living?
We all face hardships on our life’s journey. What matters is what we do with our frustrations, and how we turn our anger and sorrow into action.
More than 70% of all major transformation efforts fail.
Effecting change, real change, transformative change, is hard, really hard. It necessitates you taking a consistent approach and sticking with it. Alas persistence is not a human trait that many possess, well I suppose all ‘winners’ do.
What is Transformation:it is a marked change in form, nature, or appearance. It is the act or process of changing completely.
So what is Change: it’s to become different, an act or process through which something becomes different.
Before we carry on. If you are someone that needs to bring about change in your life, please realize right now that unless you change your way of thinking, replace your negativity with optimism, and allow yourself to not just visualize your life differently from how it is now, but see it in your imagination as being dam near perfect, you won’t be able to bring about change, or at least not the way you want it. You will go on living the same kind of life, day after day.
Today I’d like to introduce you to the change process.
A professor at Harvard Business School and world- renowned change expert, John Kotter introduced his eight-step change process in his 1995 book, “Leading Change.”
Step 1: Create Urgency
For change to happen, you have to know exactly what it is you want to change to, and you have to want it badly.This is the starting point. Determining exactly what you want to change, and what it is you want to change it to. Its not enough to know what it is you want, you’ve also got to know why, because this then ensures that both intellectual and emotionally you’re working towards the same end goal. In my Single Page Plan system, the first section NOW does exactly this.
Step 2: Form a Powerful Coalition
To lead change, you need to bring together a coalition of people to support you. With my personal recovery from my health problems, I am determined to bring about a full recovery, but no matter how much I know, I realise I can’t do it alone. From my doctor and consultants, to gym instructor, friends, family, support organisations, as well as my social network groups, it is important for me to surround myself with people that can help in some way.
Step 3: Create a Vision for Change
What will it look like when you get to your goal? When you first start thinking about change, there will probably be many great ideas and solutions floating around. Link these concepts to an overall vision that you can see in your mind clearly. In my Single Page Plan i call this your perfect life vision. You can see in every detail exactly how you want life to be. Holding on to this vision will provide you a driving force to keep going.
Step 4: Communicate the Vision
What you do with your vision after you create it will determine your success. So many distractions and interruptions are going to come your way. Other people’s goals will try to steal your focus and effort. Yet it is of the utmost importance that every day you stand firm, reflect on the vision that you want to achieve, reminding yourself of why it is so important. I make sure I re read my vision plan every morning and every night to make sure my vision is at the forefront of my mind. Every action I take reflects my goals.
Step 5: Remove Obstacles
As mentioned in the previous step, there will be people, events and circumstances that will try to distract you. We know life never runs perfectly. You need to be aware of things that push you off your targets and deal with them, so you can refocus and get back on track. Every time you remove an obstacle that stands in your way, you will be that bit more empowered to keep going.
Step 6: Create Short-Term Wins
Although you’re driven by your long term targets, you need to set short-term targets to keep your focus and actions concentrated on what’s important. You need smaller targets which are achievable in a shorter time frame, which will provide those ‘small wins’ that keep your motivation high and belief alive.
Step 7: Build on the Change
You must keep working towards your long term goals, that ‘perfect life’ vision. Not allowing yourself to settle for less, becoming satisfied by slight improvements. Its very easy to sit back and lose your way. You have to see every win as a stepping stone to your ultimate destination, each moving you forward. So that you constantly strive to build on each victory, moving a little more forward every day. Kotter argues that many change projects fail because victory is declared too early. So keep fighting those battles, enjoy your victories, but keep going until you win the war. Come out fighting every day.
Step 8: Anchor the Changes
Don’t allow yourself to fall back on old ways. Few outcomes are worse than devoting significant resources and time to bring about change only to revert to your old way of doing things. Stay engaged until you cross the finish line.
Start envisioning the kind of life you want to live. Take action on bringing about this change. You have it within you to bring about lasting change. John Kotter’s Eight Step Change Model gives you the structure you need to evolve! Using it provides you the power to change, and you will change if you follow it.
Now get started on making your changes.
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