Ava S. Butler

Organizational Development Consultant and Leadership Coach

Fifteen Techniques for Implementing Decisions: #12 Progress Reviews

January 24, 2015
Ava S. Butler

“I was given the responsibility for running a project within my company a few months ago. I’m doing my best, but the project is already running out of steam and so am I. My boss hasn’t asked me about the project even once, so maybe it’s no longer a priority. I’m not really sure. Maybe I should just put the project on the back burner and see what happens. What do you think I should do?”

#12: Progress Reviews

What are Progress Reviews?

Progress Reviews are the mechanism for tracking a project’s progress and results. When done on Continue reading →

Continue reading...
, , , ,
Implementing Change, Techniques to Implement Decisions, Transformation Tools
Leave a comment

Fifteen Techniques for Implementing Decisions: #11 Executive Steering Group (ESG)

January 18, 2015
Ava S. Butler

“I got approval for an important change in the way we do business, but now we’re stalled. The people on our project team don’t have the clout to break through the logjams and resolve cross-functional issues. What should I do?

#11: Executive Steering Group (ESG)

What is an Executive Steering Group?

Executive Steering Groups (ESGs) are groups that are called together for purposes of overseeing a specific project or program. Your ESG should represent your major stakeholders, and have the decision making authority to drive the direction of your project. ESGs usually consist of individuals in leadership positions and are Continue reading →

Continue reading...
, , , , , ,
Implementing Change, Meeting facilitation, Techniques to Implement Decisions
Leave a comment

Fifteen Techniques for Implementing Decisions: #10 Project Plans

January 10, 2015
Ava S. Butler

“We seem to have a difficult time moving from large, complex goals into detailed action plans. Is there a technique that can help us better organize our efforts in this type of situation?”

#10: Project Plans

What are Project Plans?

The Project Plans technique helps you effectively prepare a complex action plan. After an organization or group has agreed upon and approved a goal, the next step is to create an action plan for achieving that goal. If the goal is large and complicated, the resulting action plan will have several levels and categories of activity.

A Project Continue reading →

Continue reading...
, , , , , , ,
Implementing Change, Meeting facilitation, Techniques to Implement Decisions, Transformation Tools
Leave a comment

Fifteen Techniques for Implementing Decisions: #9 Project Teams

January 2, 2015
Ava S. Butler

“I’ve just been asked to lead a change project within our company. I know I don’t have all the skills and information to achieve the expected results on my own. It’s going to be especially tricky because a lot of groups are going to be impacted by the change, and I’m sure they are going to resist. What can I do to lower my risk and improve my chances of success?”

#9: Project Teams

What are Project Teams?

Most significant decisions require changes to people, processes or technology when they are implemented. Therefore, they require significant effort to Continue reading →

Continue reading...
, , , ,
Implementing Change, Techniques to Implement Decisions, Transformation Tools
Leave a comment

Fifteen Techniques for Implementing Decisions: #8 Project Charters

December 21, 2014
Ava S. Butler

“I’ve been asked to lead a change project within my company, but I’m not really sure what is expected. What should I do?”

#8: Project Charter

What is a Project Charter?

A Project Charter is a one page document that describes the new project’s:

  • Objectives
  • Measures and targets – both financial and non-financial
  • Deliverables
  • Assumptions re: support requirements, risks, inter-dependencies, etc.
  • The Project Sponsor (the leader ultimately accountable for the project’s success) the Project Manager (the person who leads the project on a day-to-day basis), and Team Members (people assigned to the project either full or part time), and Continue reading →
Continue reading...
, , ,
Implementing Change, Techniques to Implement Decisions, Transformation Tools
Leave a comment

Fifteen Techniques for Implementing Decisions: #7 Transformation Map

December 7, 2014
Ava S. Butler

“My leadership team and I have a pretty clear idea of where we want to be in the next 5 years, but don’t know exactly how to get there. There are so many issues and improvements to address. It’s hard to get our heads around them. What suggestions do you have?”

#7: Transformation Map

What is a Transformation Map?

A Transformation Map is a one page visual depiction of the plan for implementing a strategy or goal. It describes the major results, actions and milestones required to achieve your strategic goal, along with the expected timing of Continue reading →

Continue reading...
, , , ,
Implementing Change, Techniques to Implement Decisions, Transformation Tools
Leave a comment

Fifteen Techniques for Implementing Decisions: #6 Goal Plan Go

November 24, 2014
Ava S. Butler

“I read that there is a higher likelihood that goals will be obtained if the work to achieve those goals is started immediately. I have a goal-setting meeting coming up with a large group of people. After we set goals, I would like to start some of the implementation planning as soon as possible. Is there a technique that will help me do this?”

#6: Goal Plan Go

What is Goal Plan Go?

Goal Plan Go is a technique that invites your meeting participants to take responsibility for transforming the group’s goals into action. The process allows individuals Continue reading →

Continue reading...
, , , ,
Implementing Change, Meeting facilitation, Techniques to Implement Decisions
Leave a comment

Fifteen Techniques for Implementing Decisions: #5 Force Field Analysis

November 20, 2014
Ava S. Butler

“There are a number of competing groups within my organization. Sometimes a good idea can be squelched because the people who thought of and developed the idea did not consider its potential opposition. Is there a systematic process to deal with this type of potential problem?”

#5:  Force Field Analysis

What is Force Field Analysis?

Force Field Analysis is a technique that involves identifying both the forces that support and the forces that resist a decision or change, and then determining how to strengthen the positive forces and weaken the negative forces so that the change can Continue reading →

Continue reading...
, , , , ,
Implementing Change, Techniques to Implement Decisions, Transformation Tools
Leave a comment

Fifteen Techniques for Implementing Decisions: #4 Individual Action Planning

November 17, 2014
Ava S. Butler

“Sometimes I wish people would take responsibility for their own part in implementation. We have people from different areas of the organization in the room and I they would say what they will do to help us achieve our goals. Do you have any suggestions?”

#4: Individual Action Planning

What is Individual Action Planning?

Individual Action Planning is a simple technique for identifying individual commitments and contributions to the implementation of a goal.

In this process, each individual in the meeting group publicly states what he or she intends to do to support the newly agreed-upon Continue reading →

Continue reading...
, , , ,
Implementing Change, Meeting facilitation, Techniques to Implement Decisions, Transformation Tools
Leave a comment

Fifteen Techniques for Implementing Decisions: #3 Test for Support

November 9, 2014
Ava S. Butler

“Even though our group approves a decision for implementation, sometimes I get the feeling that there isn’t total support for that decision. Is there a technique that would better ascertain true levels of support before we begin implementation?”

#3: Test for Support

What is Test for Support?

Test for Support is a technique that provides a process for discovering how much true support there is for a decision, goal, or action plan that has already been approved.

One cannot assume enthusiastic support from all group members simply because a decision has been approved by the group. This misguided assumption Continue reading →

Continue reading...
, ,
Implementing Change, Techniques to Implement Decisions
Leave a comment