Change management mistake #2: wrong levers

Navy SEALs have a saying: don't rush towards your death. Although hasty actions aren't lethal in business, they certainly take you off the track.

Only purposeful actions lead to desired outcome.

Now, imagine following example...

Marcus wants to build some muscle for the summer beach. So he immediately subscribes for a gym membership and works out three-times a week. He's not quite sure how to exercise, but as some people there run on the treadmills while others pump the irons, he follows their lead and does a bit of everything. After a month, although he feels more fit, the Arnie's physique is nowhere to be seen. He gets upset, frustrated and slowly gives up...

What's the problem? His actions seem to be the obvious and right things to do!

Unless they actually are not.

The key to success is to identify the real change levers: variables and actions that have a causal connection with the target.

Unless you are able to identify them, you may burn your time and energy on useless or even contradictory activities.

In our example, doing cardio hampers muscle growth. And the missing change factor are the eating habits - abundant calories and protein intake. And n.b. that gym membership is not an action by itself, as many may believe, but just an enabler.

The same principles apply to business challenges too.

Getting more revenue is not just about selling more. Shortening process cycle is not just about asking people to work faster. Fixing gap in net income is not just about cost cutting. Product innovation is not just about adding features. Marketing campaign is not just about new followers on social media.

Successfully completing any change project is not about jumping into frenzy action and "let's do it" run-around rhetorics.

Successful change is about the right set of actions, the right set of change levers.