Fear Less: Introducing Change into Organizations

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Fear Less Introducing Change into Organizations

• Dr. Mary Lynn Manns
• University of North Carolina at Asheville
• manns_at_unca.edu

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True or FalseIt is always best for the boss to
introduce any changes into the organization.
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So what is the role of the boss when changes are
introduced into the organization?
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True or FalseIf youre smart (you are!) and you
know what to do (you do!), then you dont need a
lot of help from others to introduce the new idea.
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You cant and shouldnt do it alone?Why not?Who
else should help?
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True or FalseIf we just explain the value in
the new idea, people will understand and will
accept it.
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So if we cant just get people to accept the new
idea by explaining the value in it, what else
should we do?
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Different people accept new ideas at different
rates

• Do you know these people?
• This is new so it is cool.
• This is an interesting idea, but I want to hear
  more before making a decision.
• I want to see what other people think about the
  new idea before I make a decision.
• Ill accept the new idea when I have to.
• Its always been done this way why do we have
  to introduce anything new?

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Different people accept new ideas at different
rates

• The Innovator (2.5)
• The Early Adopter (13.5)
• The Early Majority (34)
• The Late Majority (34)
• The Laggard (16)
• So what?

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True or FalseSince Innovators get so excited
about new ideas, we can ask them to try to
convince others.
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Well, if Innovators arent the best people to
convince others,who are?
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Different people accept new ideas at different
rates

• Innovator This is new so it is cool.
• Early Adopter This is an interesting idea, but
  I want to hear more before making a decision.
• Early Majority I want to see what other people
  think about the new idea before I make a
  decision.
• Late Majority Ill accept the new idea when I
  have to.
• Laggard Its always been done this way why do
  we have to do anything new?

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True or FalseThe best way to deal with people
who are against the new idea is to try to keep
them out of the way.
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So what is the best way to deal with people who
are against the new idea?
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True or FalseIf you want to convince someone
about the new idea, you must be sure you know a
lot about it.
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If you want to convince someone about the new
idea, you must be sure you know a lot about
it.And what else?
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True or FalseWhen you wish to introduce a new
idea into an organization, you need a specific
plan for how you are going to do it.
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No plan? Then what do you do instead?
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So what have you learned about introducing a new
idea to a group of people .
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What have you learned about

• .. who can introduce the change
• .. the danger in trying to do it alone
• .. the way individuals accept change
• .. how you can encourage various individuals to
  help you introduce the new idea
• .. how you should handle the skeptics
• .. what else is important in convincing people
  besides the fact that you know a lot
• .. the type of plan you should have

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Go out and make great changesin the world!