Lean change and agile change management are becoming more popular terms these days, but do we know what they really mean? My guest today is prolific author and international speaker, Jason Little and we’re talking about what lean and agile change management actually looks like in practice and how to integrate it into your change management program.

Jason Little is the founder of Lean Change and the author of three books, including Change Agility, Lean Change Management and Agile Transformation: A Guide to Organizational Change.  In addition to revolutionising the world of change, he’s also CTO of Spero Careers Canada, a company dedicated to solving the autism employment crisis. He is a true pioneer in the change management space.

In this episode, Jason and I cover the core principles of lean change and how to start integrating lean and agile change practices into your project, particularly when your organisation is used to more traditional change management approaches. Jason shares some insightful recommendations such as using a change canvas, running lean coffee sessions and creating feedback loops. We talk about these in more detail and how you can start implementing them, starting today.

Lean change management is all about being as lightweight and efficient as possible while embracing startup thinking. The goal is to initiate change without drowning in unnecessary processes, which is something that often happens in larger organisations. Jason shares how placing an emphasis on conversation and obtaining feedback puts people in the centre of the change management program, instead of using change to simply drive results.

Feedback is a driving force behind effective change management. Jason explains how constructive feedback loops help to course-correct and plan in shorter time frames, understanding that we don’t need to map out every single step. Implementing practices like lean coffee sessions encourages open dialogue and attendee-driven meetings, which can be a welcome shift from traditional change processes.

We also talk about the common dilemma of aligning the change process with the agile technical team while still satisfying the need for extensive documentation. This is where lean and agile change practices can shine. Instead of imposing changes drastically, Jason suggests swimming with the current and introducing fresh approaches to introduce change without alarming the status quo.

For change managers looking to introduce lean and agile change practices, it's best to start with baby steps. Co-creative change canvas sessions and lean coffee meetings are excellent ways to introduce new techniques without overwhelming the organisation. Remember, it's about finding the right balance between adhering to the established norms and introducing new ideas.

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Resources Mentioned:

Books

Connect with Jason Little:

Websites:https://leanchange.org/ & http://agilecoach.ca/

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlittle/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/lean_change

Connect with me:

Download my Energy Management Toolkit here!

Website: https://www.everchange.com.au/

LinkedIn: