Change is inevitable in every aspect of life, and project management is no exception. Project managers are always looking for new ideas and techniques that can increase project performance and drive better outcomes. Change awareness plays a critical role in any project team’s success, but it can be challenging to introduce change. Everyone handles change differently, which can hinder progress.

Lewin’s 3 Step Model illustrates the change cycle modes as unfreezing, changing, and refreezing.

Unfreezing refers to the current way of thinking, and the change is communicated to begin the process of acceptance.

Changing involves the practice and trial period to implement change, which is where previous routines and old habits become difficult to refrain from legacy practices.

Finally, Refreezing is about sustaining the change effort, and new routines, techniques and practices are maintained.

Implementing change is not always easy, and it requires a deep understanding of change awareness with consensus. In this edition of The Coffee Talk, we will discuss some best practices for change awareness to help project managers introduce change to their teams effectively.

Create a Need: The first step in change awareness is to create a need for change. The objective is to identify areas of improvement and make suggestions for improvements. Project managers should demonstrate the potential benefits of potential change and reiterate when appropriate to build interest. By creating a need for change, project managers can motivate their teams to be more receptive to new ideas and techniques.

Establish a Cohort: The next step is to establish a cohort of key stakeholders and establish a focus group assessing the new technique. This step is critical in ensuring that the right people are involved in the change process. It's essential to create a safe environment and allow room for modifications and customizations. Collaboration builds bonds, and through these bonds, there are great outcomes.

Achieve Buy-in: The final step in change awareness is to achieve buy-in. Project managers should obtain high succession rates of usage with positive reviews and feedback from focus groups and key stakeholders, expressing total support and full buy-in. Achieving buy-in can ensure that the change effort is successful, and new routines, techniques, and practices are maintained.

Change management is an ongoing process, and you should be prepared to handle resistance to change. Resistance to change is often due to fear of the unknown or a lack of understanding about the benefits of the proposed change.

As a project manager, you should be transparent about the change process and communicate the benefits of the change to their teams. Additionally, it's essential to involve team members in the change process and provide them with opportunities to provide feedback and input.

To wrap it up, change is an essential aspect of project management. To introduce change effectively, you must have a deep understanding of change awareness with consensus. By creating a need for change, establishing a cohort, and achieving buy-in, you can successfully implement change and drive better outcomes.

Project managers should also be prepared to handle resistance to change and involve team members in the change process. These are some of the best practices you can successfully introduce change into their teams and drive better project outcomes.