Managing Complex Change

Principals’ MeetingJanuary 27, 2015

Purpose• To examine processes of complex change Learning Objectives• To help principals identify the components

and processes of change • To assist principals in assessing the condition

and climate of schools

Components of a change strategy

Vision Skills Incentive Resources Action Plan+ + + + = Results/Change

adapted from Ambrose, Managing Complex Change

What happens when a component is missing?

Vision Skills Incentive Resources Action Plan+ + + + = Results/Change

Vision Skills Incentive Resources Action Plan+ + + + = Confusion

Vision Skills Incentive Resources Action Plan+ + + + = Anxiety

Vision Skills Incentive Resources Action Plan+ + + + = Resistance

Vision Skills Incentive Resources Action Plan+ + + + = Frustration

Vision Skills Incentive Resources Action Plan+ + + + = False start

adapted from Ambrose, Managing Complex Change

Vision

Vision = A compelling future state which provides direction and a sense of unity - What is the vision?

Lack of Vision = Leaves people feeling confused

“Why?”

“What are they thinking?”

“Here we go again!”

Vision Skills Incentive Resources Action Plan+ + + + = Confusion

Skills

Skills = The ability to do something well and with a level of expertise - Does the team have those skills?

Lack of Skills or Training = Without the skills, or the promise of skills from a source we trust, we will feel anxiety…

“I can’t!”

“I don’t know how.”

“Will there be a place for me?”

Vision Skills Incentive Resources Action Plan+ + + + = Anxiety

Incentive

Incentive = A thing that motivates or encourages one to do something - What’s in it for me?

Lack of Incentive = Why do the work if there is no value, no consensus is built.

“Don’t waste our time!”

“I just want to do the job, not deal with all this…”

Vision Skills Incentive Resources Action Plan+ + + + = Resistance

Resources

Resources = A stock or supply of money, materials, staff or other assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to function effectively - What do I have to work with?

Lack of Resources = Without the physical and emotional resources to accomplish the change people will be frustrated

“They ask the world and give us nothing to work with.”

“How can they expect us to do…?”

Vision Skills Incentive Resources Action Plan+ + + + = Frustration

Action Plan

Plan = A detailed proposal for doing or achieving something- Do we have a clear, manageable, measurable plan?

Lack of a Plan = Without a plan it is impossible to gain traction

“We keep talking but nothing is happening”

“We are going in circles.”

Vision Skills Incentive Resources Action Plan+ + + + = False start

In the context of CLIP, where are we as a district?

Vision Skills Incentive Resources Action Plan+ + + + = Results/Change

Vision Skills Incentive Resources Action Plan+ + + + = Confusion

Vision Skills Incentive Resources Action Plan+ + + + = Anxiety

Vision Skills Incentive Resources Action Plan+ + + + = Resistance

Vision Skills Incentive Resources Action Plan+ + + + = Frustration

Vision Skills Incentive Resources Action Plan+ + + + = False start

adapted from Ambrose , Managing Complex Change

Taking StockReflection Time

Do we have the ideal conditions for change? What do I need?

Bridge to Practice- Forward Focus

So…what do you think?

“Too often, students of all ages come to class struggling with life challenges that can interfere with instruction, impede achievement, and undermine school climate. Preventing or remedying such barriers is critical to school success.”

-National Association of School Psychologists, August 2008

“If you want to bring about a fundamental change in people’s belief and behavior, a change that will persist and serve as an example to others, you need to create a community around them, where those new beliefs can be practiced, expressed and nurtured.”

Malcolm Gladwell, The Tipping Point