Progress vs. Togetherness
July 18, 2024 | By David M. Wagner
A colleague of mine tends to rub others the wrong way.
I know this because in just one week, two different people happened to mention this individual – and their frustration with them – unprompted.
Why the chaffing?
Because my colleague is pushing for change.
Hard.
And they may not always take the time to see other perspectives or consider reasonable resistance to those changes.
A Balancing Act
I find myself empathizing with both this impassioned would-be change-maker and with the people they rub the wrong way.
I support this colleague because I share their belief in the importance of their cause. Progress matters!
And I understand the frustration others experience when they feel steamrolled or not listened to.
Because we can only make lasting progress if we do so together.
Like any successful advocate, the job of effective leaders is to strike that careful balance: keeping the ship moving forward while making sure everyone is still onboard.
How to Make Change (and Make it Last)
Here are five tips for making lasting change:
Remember that the struggle for change is a long journey. Your cause or mission may be deeply personal to you, which puts you at greater risk of burning out in the face of resistance. Set boundaries to protect your emotions, recharge often, and use your energy strategically.
Recognize that you are in the persuasion business. Combativeness does not win people over; neither does smarmy salesmanship. Authentic persuasion starts with listening, making sincere connections, and recommending solutions that address shared interests or values.
Put your relationships with people first. You’ll need people on your side to make changes last. So when you experience conflicts and disagreements, prioritize preserving those relationships over “being right.” You can be “right” later; broken relationships may never recover.
Make inclusion a priority. Create space for anyone affected by a decision to have a say in it. Make the decision-making process explicit and invite input at multiple points along the way. Transparency breeds trust, which can be more important than consensus.
Listen, decide, act. There is a risk of getting stuck in the “input” stage and never making progress. Get the ball rolling by knowing whose support you need, committing to decision timeframes, and communicating your choice with clear reasoning.
Making progress takes a lot of pushing. Making change last requires everyone to advance together. Strike the balance by preparing for the journey, centering people (including resistors) in the process, and acting decisively when you have the support you need.
I advise nonprofit leaders on how to make lasting change – within and through their organizations – with my strategy consulting. If you’re ready to make progress, and make it last, set a free consult with me.