What NOT to do when your change is roadblocked

When you're getting roadblocked, how can you influence the correct people without causing friction by escalating to higher levels up? This is a great question and most of what we do in Change Management isn’t authority, it’s influencing. The Project Manager usually gets the budget, the resources, the authority and the command which leaves us Changies with the harder (but more interesting, in my view) role of using influence to get ourselves heard, accepted, believed and supported. 

Whatever you do, don’t give up at the first hurdle. If you're constantly getting roadblocked when leading change, here's a few things to think about and try:

What's the person's personality type? 

How can you adjust your approach/message to better suit their preferences and unique needs? If you don’t know their personality type, I teach all about them and how to spot them, communicate, train, work with, and influence all personality types in my global online Leading Successful Change program.

What's top of mind for them? 

What are their goals and priorities? How can you make them look good? How can you stop them from looking bad by following your advice/request?

Is it a budget issue? 

The truth is: money can usually be found, so make your case and ask how budget could be found if they want this to be a success. There’s always a way!

Is it a time issue? 

By solving it, show how it will save more time and make it SUPER easy to sign off.

Have regular catch ups with 2-Up and 3-Up leaders

That way, when you want to escalate something, it doesn't have to be this out-of-the-ordinary, crazy thing to meet with them. It can be a casual comment as part of a quarterly casual catch up.

Think about other channels

For example, if I'm struggling to get through to the Sponsor of the project, I might raise it instead with my Head of Change and let her influence an Executive…

Who does this person respect and listen to? 

It might not be someone more senior, it could be a peer, or even someone junior to them. See if you can get them as an advocate. And of course, it could be hiring an external consultant like me because for some strange reason, an external consultant can come in and say the exact same thing you’ve been banging on about but they’ll be heard, understood, and believed where you fell on deaf ears (frustrating but sadly true!).

And finally, when you've tried a ton of different approaches and tools and are still getting roadblocked, you might need to ask the question to yourself: Is this the right project / role / organisation for me?

There's something noble about pushing through and struggling uphill. There's also something noble in being compassionate for yourself and your wellbeing and knowing when it's time to move on from a situation, place, or person that you don't feel you can make an impact in anymore.

Often it’s much easier to influence when you’ve already positioned yourself as a trusted change advisor. Watch my free Change Advisor Bootcamp to learn my expert consulting secrets to get a seat at the table, build strong relationships and lead complex change to success. 

>> Register for my free Change Advisor Bootcamp here

The free bootcamp is only available for a limited time, so get your access today and be sure to watch it ASAP.

All my belief, 
Lata