How to become a change manager

Introduction

Definition of change management

Change management is the act of transitioning an organisation from an existing situation (or current state) to a situation providing more desirable outcomes (a future state). It requires teamwork, hard work, and best practise change management tools and processes to reach the future state.

Applying change in organisations requires optimism, determination and dedication. Therefore, a person must oversee the change strategy and be able to drive it to its proper destination. That person is the change manager.

Many change managers learn the key change management tools and techniques by attending one of these professional change management courses . In the UK, the most popular of these are the Self-pacedAPMG change management courses.

Why organisations use change managers

Change managers play a significant role in the success of change initiatives as they direct the desired outcomes down the right path. They do this using best practices and customising such practices to the organisation’s culture. Better performance from staff, improved ways of working and higher sales targets are some of the outcomes we can tangibly see.

Here are some findings after change management was implemented in companies lead by a change manager:Compare

• According to IBM, the success rate of change projects using a dedicated change manager rose by 19% compared to those that did not.
• ChangeFirst Limited say that six to nine months after project launch, projects with change management input were delivering significant performance improvements, financial results and behavioural change. Most of the respondents attributed over 20% of the success directly to effective change management.Delivery
• Ferris stated that effective change management delivers improved adoption speed, utilization rate and employee proficiency, stressing the importance of effective preparation for change, disciplined management, and clear reinforcement.
• Prosci mentioned that change management programmes rated ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ had an above-80% success rate. Those rated ‘poor’ or ‘fair’ achieve less than 50% ^[1] .Enrol

What a change manager does

• AgilePM provides a framework for managing agile projects while maintaining control over time, cost, quality, and risk. It helps teams deliver iteratively without losing sight of business needs and governance.Senior leaders, managers and supervisors
• HR PersonnelAgilePM qualifications show you can lead or support agile projects, align stakeholders, and balance responsiveness with accountability in real-world delivery environments.
• Project leaders and teamsCompare course options
• Other specialists related with the change plans Recognised globally^{[2]AgilePM is widely adopted by organisations using agile delivery, giving project professionals a well-known qualification to validate their skills.}

Starting a change manager careerProject staff or those new to agile delivery who want a solid grounding in AgilePM concepts, roles, and processes.

Experience

communication skills

It is essential for a change manager to be able to communicate clearly and effectively in all writing, speaking, listening and reading activities. They must be able to deliver their change message to all stakeholders involved.

Influencing others

A big part of change is the ability to influence others, as resistance plays a big factor in the change curve. When you know the team members of your change project well, it will help you negotiate and convince them with the original reason for change and thus gain their trust.

Coaching skills

You can’t assume that everybody in the company will understand your change mission. Hence, meetings like awareness sessions, in-house training and one-to-one mentoring will be needed to deliver your message.

Strategic thinking and judgment

References Self-paced online