One of the major mistakes we make in major change initiatives is that we oversell the long term goal at the expense of dealing with the short term problems. People do want to know where they are going but they want to know even more what does all this mean for me right now?
Once the new change plan has been implemented it is critical for everyone involved to experience the benefits of short term wins so they can stay motivated for the future and the change that is yet to come. John Kotter list several roles that short term wins play:
- Provide evidence that sacrifices are worth it: Wins greatly help justify the short term cost involved.
- Reward change agents: After a lot of hard work, positive feedback builds morale and motivation.
- Help fine-tune vision and strategies: Short term wins give the guiding coalition concrete data on the viability of their ideas.
- Undermine cynics and self-serving resisters: Clear improvements in performance make it difficult for people to block needed change.
- Keep bosses on board: Provides those higher in the hierarchy with evidence that the transformation is on track.
- Build momentum: Turns neutrals into supporters, reluctant supporters into active helpers.
Therefore it becomes critical in any change planning to build into the strategy several things that can be done within the first six months that may be small in scale but clear wins that everyone can celebrate.