Welcome Professionals…

…we are beginning a new year tomorrow. As usual at this point in time, many of us will craft new year resolutions. Resolutions that shall change something in our lifes for the better. But what makes the difference between halfhearted wishful thinking and a rigorous change effort?

It is the case for change! When change fails for individuals or for organizations, it is often due to underestimating the case for change.

Change is expensive, change is an effort. Nobody changes just because he or she feels like it in that moment when glasses are raised on New Year’s Eve. We need to take a conscious decision and we have to attach a strong motivation to our effort. Motivation works best if there is not only a rational reason, but also a strong emotional trigger attached.

It is just a matter of our human brain that avoiding pain is a much stronger motivator than seeking pleasure. So if we are seeking for change to the better, it helps to formulate the pain we are facing if we stay where we are.

In summary, a strong case for change consists of:

• Conscious decision to act now
• Rationale for change
• Emotional motivator of avoiding pain in the future

Phrased in an example, the case for change could be: “If we do not bring our production cost down to USD 75 per piece in 2016, we will loose a market share of 20% and eventually be pushed out of buisiness in 2020. We will loose everthing we worked for in our company history over the last 50 years.” This would be a strong case for change, wouldn’t it? Now try and fill this exemplary case with your own resolution!

Happy New Year!

Malte

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