While driving, I realized that I whizzed past a new highway interchange without even noticing. The last time I was on the road there were temporary lanes, cones, and land movers but the results of that work were now seamless.
Road construction is a good metaphor for a change effort.
- It’s easier to make a change if there is a widely-acknowledged problem. For this particular situation, the curve, intersection, and high speeds had resulted in several serious accidents and people were anxious for a modification — making the investment and inconvenience much more palatable.
- During the change effort, there is substantial disruption. While the new exchange was being constructed, there were delays, detours, dirt, and noise. Those closest to the change — the ones actually using that exit — experienced the most upheaval but everyone who was in proximity was affected.
- Now that the change is complete, it is hard to remember the old way. It’s so much better — to have a controlled exit that allows for easy merges instead of crossing highway traffic at an intersection. It may have been hard to envision the difference after living with the old way for decades but now it would be harder to imagine reverting to the way things were.
If your organization is preparing for a major rebuild, model your project after civil engineering. Help make the case “before”, anticipate disruption “during” and expect to have the new become the norm soon “after.”
