Business Knowledge

Organizational Change Strategies

Change starts with the individual. Help your team (and yourself!) through it.

1. A - Awareness:

  • Does the person understand why the change is happening? (The “why”).
  • Do they understand the risks of not changing?
  • Action: Communicate the rationale clearly and repeatedly.

2. D - Desire:

  • Does the person want to support and participate in the change? (The “what’s in it for me”).
  • Action: Highlight benefits, address fears, manage resistance, empower participation.

3. K - Knowledge:

  • Does the person know how to change? What new skills or behaviors are needed?
  • Action: Provide training, coaching, and clear instructions.

4. A - Ability:

  • Can the person actually do the new things required?
  • Are there any physical, psychological, or organizational barriers?
  • Action: Provide practice, resources, support systems, remove obstacles.

5. R - Reinforcement:

  • Are new behaviors being reinforced and sustained?
  • Is the change being celebrated and continuously improved?
  • Action: Measure progress, celebrate wins, align rewards.

Golden Rule: Change happens one person at a time. Address each ADKAR element for everyone involved, or your transformation will likely fail.