Human Resources Tips - How to Initiate an Organizational Intervention

Do you need to have an intervention in yourdissatisfaction with the current state and a real desire
organizations? I don't mean one of those awkwardand willingness by the employees and key players
scenes you read about in books or see in dramasalike to want to change.
when an addicts family and friends are waiting for a- Do we have all the tools we need? - Change is not
person in a room and then collectively tell them theeasy and can easily turn disastrous if the people
damage they are doing to themselves and others - I'mleading the change have no idea what they are doing.
talking about an organizational intervention. AnIf you recognize change is necessary and want to
organizational intervention is a way to stop the currentconduct a change intervention, make sure there is
behavior conducted with in an organization and changesomeone knowledgeable and available to see the
course to a new, more productive behavior (maybe Ichange through to the end.
am talking about the awkward scene described- What's the back up plan? - A change intervention
above?). This may be, for example, to improveinitiates change, but any plan implemented may need to
relationships between two departments or teams,be amended or completely scrapped as more
address conflict within a team, or to address systemicinformation is collected during the process. Have back
issues of quality or low productivity.up plans for your back up plans and make sure you
Here a few tips to help you get the ball rolling on ancan follow through on meaningful change - you don't
organizational intervention:want to stall the process once the ball of change has
- "Are you ready to rumble?" - In order for change tobegun rolling.
occur, there needs to be a readiness and openness to- Remember, culture matters - Make sure that any
the change. As with a drug addict trying to weanchange initiated accounts for the cultural values of the
themselves off of drugs, if they are not prepared toorganization and those people who comprise the
make the change necessary for a healthier, productiveorganization. Culture is an amazingly powerful element
life, the change will not be successful. For organizations,in the change process and without accounting for it,
at a very basic level, there needs to be a generalchange will not work.