How to Revitalize Your Organization: 6 Reminders for Leading Change

My daughter and son-in-law recently bought their first home. And as with many first-time buyers, they purchased a fixer-upper due to the price of homes these days. It is an older home in a great town on a nice street. The keyword here is “older” with a lot of quirks that are common for such homes. So, it was a full-court press to revitalize it. I love a good project, and this place had plenty of them – many that were far beyond my experience and abilities.

As consultants, our team has walked with many leaders as they have sought to bring new life back into an old and outdated organization. And while helping with the home renovation, I was reminded how much it had in common with organizational revitalization. If your organization needs fresh vision and direction or a complete overhaul, consider these six reminders for leading change from my own version of “extreme home makeover.”

1. Revitalization requires some risks.

If you are looking for risk-free and easy, steer clear of the work of revitalization. Home revitalization requires extensive spending, dangerous saws, challenging demolition, complex plumbing, scary electricity, and the ever-challenging ladders. And speaking of ladders, I did happen to take a minor fall off one during some exterior painting (my wife doesn’t know, so let’s keep that quiet). Similarly, revitalizing an organization also has some inherent risks, including potential for conflict, significant expenses, and personnel changes, to name a few. When it comes to revitalization, no risk = no reward.

2. Seek help from experts.

I am glad I have a few friends to call upon who are just plain brilliant when it comes to construction. One of the best is a guy I will call “John” (I don’t want to use his real name, or he will get even busier and less available for my calls!). He knows doors, windows, plumbing, electrical, carpentry… basically, he knows everything! And I needed to make more than a few calls asking him to come figure something out for us. Experts can be helpful in organization revitalization as well. They have experience from going through the process dozens of times. They can help you create a plan, anticipate what is ahead, and prevent painful and costly mistakes.

3. It will take longer than you think.

I have a rule – if I think something is going to take me one hour, it will likely require three hours. It’s not good math, but it is real math for me. My friend and I were replacing the bathroom exhaust fan and light. It seemed pretty simple since both of us had done a few of these, and we figured it would take about 15 minutes to remove the old one. Right! It took two old guys over an hour of pounding and cutting to get it off (it wasn’t a pretty sight). As consultants, we remind organizations that change will almost always take more time than they plan for because unexpected things (see next point) will emerge during the process.

4. Most changes don’t go as planned.

I am a planner, but I have found that few home projects go exactly as I expected. When you pull down the ceiling, take apart the plumbing, or take down the ceiling fan, it is not uncommon to find unexpected things. A wire you did not know would be there. A crack in a pipe. A hole in the roof. The amount of time for an inspection to be completed or a permit to be granted. When you are entering into a revitalization project for your organization, you too need to prepare yourself for unexpected “surprises” because they are very likely to emerge and can include interpersonal conflict, damaged trust, character flaws, and poor-performing team members, just to name a few.

5. Advanced planning pays big dividends.

A successful home revitalization requires what can feel like hundreds of decisions, with each one affecting the others. You touch one area, and it often impacts another. You forget one thing, and the mistake can cost you both money and time. My translation of a warning provided in the Bible is this: “Haste results in mistakes.” (Proverbs 19:2). A successful execution of an organizational revitalization (or home) involves sitting down with a small group of people, including a few who have previous experience in such endeavors, and mapping out the project, sequence, timing, manpower, and budget. While your plan will need to remain flexible (due to point #4), it will serve as a good roadmap for both efficiency and getting started.

6. Mistakes can cost more than seeking professional help.

People are often slow to call a professional because it will cost money. After all, medical specialists have co-pays. Electricians and plumbers have hourly rates. Consultants have fees. But we often forget to consider what it will potentially cost us if we don’t have expert advice sooner rather than later. Cut that wire without an expert giving you advice, and the experience may not only be expensive, but it can also be deadly! Mismanage an employee issue, and face accelerated conflict and possible litigation. We have seen this dozens of times here at The Center Consulting Group. If a leader or board had called us earlier, the risks could have been reduced and the costs dramatically lower.

If you are preparing to revitalize your organization, don’t do it alone. Our team at The Center Consulting Group has guided leaders through complex transitions and organizational turnarounds with clarity and care. Contact us to speak with one of our experts.

Jay Desko is the President & CEO of The Center Consulting Group and brings experience in the areas of organizational assessment, leadership coaching, decision-making, and strategic questioning. Jay’s degrees include an M.Ed. in Instructional Systems Design from Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Leadership from The Union Institute.