In an earlier post I described how using the analogy of the airport and the different parts of how an airport functions helps us to understand how we land multiple changes. For example, we need effective ‘air traffic control’to land initiatives, we need to ensure’runway readinesses, and ensure there is sufficient ‘post landing’ support. To read more about this please click here.
A key role in helping to land multiple initiatives is the role of the ‘Air Traffic Controller’. Air Traffic Controller roles require highly specialized knowledge, skills and abilities. They regularly monitor the speed, position and altitude of aircrafts in flight. As listed on Wikipedia, some of their core skills include:
- Being well organized
- Assertive and firm decision making
- Maintain composure under pressure
- Great visual memory
- Great situational awareness
- Effective communication
- Effective team work
Just like the Air Traffic Controller, Change Managers, Program Managers, Portfolio Managers, General Managers or Operations Managers may be charged with coordinating and landing multiple change initiatives on a regular basis. To undertake this role, similar skills are required. They may need to make harsh calls to halt, slow down, speed up, or change an initiative before they can land effectively and be embedded within a business. There can be significant stress with the demands of stakeholders with various agendas pushing for different outcomes.
And just like Air Traffic Controllers they need to constantly make calls in the interest of the business to ensure overall benefits and strategies are achieved. There are constantly lots of variables to juggle with… technology, traffic volume, human factors, environment, etc. Situational awareness refers to the understanding of information and events in the environment and how actions can impact goals and objectives. All sound familiar?
One of the core tools for the Air Traffic Controller is the radar. Without the radar they will not be able to see what is coming, from where and when they will land. Do you have the right tools to manage multiple initiatives? Do you have the radar to see the change impacts of initiatives on different parts of the business in real-time? Or are you still relying on people chasing for data that becomes out of date very quickly?
For more details about benefits of change management visit our website: https://www.thechangecompass.com/
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