After the WAS*IS After the WAS*IS Ecstasy, the Ecstasy, the Laundry…Laundry…

Susanne C. Moser, Ph.D.Susanne C. Moser, Ph.D.

Institute for the Study of Society and Institute for the Study of Society and Environment Environment

NCARNCAR

(smoser@ucar.edu)(smoser@ucar.edu)WAS*IS Workshop · Boulder, CO · July 20, 2007

The “Going Home Talk”The “Going Home Talk”

• The ecstasy: Where are you at?The ecstasy: Where are you at?

• … … and the laundry: and the laundry: – Where is the rest of the world?Where is the rest of the world?– Likely challenges of practicing WAS*IS at Likely challenges of practicing WAS*IS at

homehome

• Some perspectives on changeSome perspectives on change

• Strategies for next Monday… and for Strategies for next Monday… and for the long haulthe long haul

After the WAS*IS After the WAS*IS Ecstasy…Ecstasy…

• Where are you?Where are you?

– Excitement about what you learned and Excitement about what you learned and gainedgained

• New perspectives and knowledge (theory, New perspectives and knowledge (theory, concepts)concepts)

• New tools (methods, approaches, skills)New tools (methods, approaches, skills)• New languageNew language

– New friends and colleaguesNew friends and colleagues

– New or renewed commitment to WAS*ISNew or renewed commitment to WAS*IS

– Motivation and desire to do things Motivation and desire to do things differentlydifferently

– A little exhausted, a little worried A little exhausted, a little worried maybe?maybe?

… … the WAS*IS Laundrythe WAS*IS Laundry

• When you get back home, back to When you get back home, back to workwork– They weren’t here!They weren’t here!– They did the “laundry” while you were They did the “laundry” while you were

gone (the kids, dishes, garbage … the gone (the kids, dishes, garbage … the meetings, phone calls, never-ending meetings, phone calls, never-ending to-do lists … the way we’ve always to-do lists … the way we’ve always done it)done it)

– Most of your fellow WAS*IS’ers aren’t Most of your fellow WAS*IS’ers aren’t down the hall (but some may be)down the hall (but some may be)

– The rest of the world probably isn’t The rest of the world probably isn’t waiting to change its habits waiting to change its habits • thinking, behavior, incentives, job thinking, behavior, incentives, job

descriptions, institutions… still the samedescriptions, institutions… still the same

… … the WAS*IS Laundry the WAS*IS Laundry (cont.)(cont.)

• In a week, a month from now…In a week, a month from now…– You’re aloneYou’re alone– Isolated geographically, intellectually, Isolated geographically, intellectually,

institutionallyinstitutionally– Limited resourcesLimited resources– Never enough timeNever enough time– Wishing for greater depth or Wishing for greater depth or

experience in knowledge, methods, experience in knowledge, methods, communication skillscommunication skills

► ► INTERDISCIPLINARY WORK IS INTERDISCIPLINARY WORK IS MUCH HARDER THAN YOU MUCH HARDER THAN YOU THOUGHT IT ISTHOUGHT IT IS

So…So…

You changed -You changed - You want to change something else -You want to change something else - What you want to change may well What you want to change may well

resist.resist.

This is all NORMAL!This is all NORMAL!

But how to deal with But how to deal with “normal”????“normal”????

Becoming a Master Becoming a Master InterdisciplinarianInterdisciplinarian

From Directed Learner toFrom Directed Learner to

Independent PerformerIndependent Performer

ExpertExpert

LeaderLeader

VisionaryVisionary

The Cycle of The Cycle of Change:Change:

Motivation and Motivation and ResistanceResistance

Source: Lessons for Living (2006)

Creating ChangeCreating Change• The two tasks of change agents:The two tasks of change agents:

(1) Elevate motivation to change(1) Elevate motivation to change&&

(2) Lower resistance/barriers to (2) Lower resistance/barriers to changechange

• Implications:Implications:- Identify a vision and clear goalsIdentify a vision and clear goals- Strategically assess Strategically assess

- leverage pointsleverage points- windows of opportunitywindows of opportunity- key playerskey players- specific needs/resourcesspecific needs/resources- likely barrierslikely barriers

- Take a realistic, but long-term viewTake a realistic, but long-term view

Source: Moser & Dilling, 2007. Creating a Climate for Change: Communicating Climate Change and Facilitating Social Change. Cambridge University Press. See: http://www.isse.ucar.edu/communication/book/

Another Perspective on Another Perspective on ChangeChange

Competence/ability

Motivation&

Confidence

Source: K. Blanchard & Co., Situational Leadership, 2003

low

high

low

Creating Change (cont.)Creating Change (cont.)

Source: http://www.epmbook.com/orgchange.htm (2006)

Response to change Why change projects fail

First-Order StrategiesFirst-Order Strategies

• Before you say anything else: Check in on “the Before you say anything else: Check in on “the laundry,” thank them for doing it, do some laundry,” thank them for doing it, do some yourself…yourself…

• Identify or create a “receptive moment”Identify or create a “receptive moment”• Who are you talking to?Who are you talking to?

– Tell them (only) what they need to knowTell them (only) what they need to know– Speak in their languageSpeak in their language– Help them see how what you bring will help themHelp them see how what you bring will help them

• Offer something to themOffer something to them• Only then ask for what you need to implement the Only then ask for what you need to implement the

changechange• Offer to check in regularly, report backOffer to check in regularly, report back• Do this with everyone who needs to be involved in Do this with everyone who needs to be involved in

the changethe change

Support for Change Support for Change AgentsAgents

• Build your local team (because you can’t do it Build your local team (because you can’t do it alone and not all at once)alone and not all at once)– Skills, support, sharing the work, etc.Skills, support, sharing the work, etc.– Establish clear rules, timeline, authority, Establish clear rules, timeline, authority,

responsibility, accountabilityresponsibility, accountability– Communicate more than you think is neededCommunicate more than you think is needed

• Plant the seeds, let it become everyone’s gardenPlant the seeds, let it become everyone’s garden• Continue to build skillsContinue to build skills

– Yours Yours – Everyone else’sEveryone else’s

• Make use of WAS*IS connections, resources, Make use of WAS*IS connections, resources, discussion listdiscussion list– Maybe a “buddy system,” mentoring, …Maybe a “buddy system,” mentoring, …

Others need what you Others need what you need…need…

… and then some… and then some• Opportunity, challenges

• Mentoring• Prioritization•Appreciation

• Very specific skill buildg• Time off/break• Reassurance

• Recognition/rewards• Check-in on satisfaction

• Connection• New challenge, if wanted

• Freedom• Don’t forget to

communicate

• Confidence building• Big picture

• Benchmarks, feedback• Manageable goals

• Coaching• Specific skills, training

• Reassurance

• Clear instructions• Guidance, training

• Frequent communication• Specifics, explanation

• Boundaries(w/out undermining

Motivation)

Competence/ability

Motivation&

Confidence

Source: K. Blanchard & Co., Situational Leadership, 2003

low

high

low

Directing

Coaching

Delegating

Supporting

What Else? – Your Own What Else? – Your Own IdeasIdeas

• be aware of the resistors; work around thembe aware of the resistors; work around them• include them, make them part of the process, don’t include them, make them part of the process, don’t

alienate them; communicate a lot, meet face to alienate them; communicate a lot, meet face to face, ask them about their worriesface, ask them about their worries

• Identify the “believers”, those who support you Identify the “believers”, those who support you • Think of this as “culture change”, needs to be Think of this as “culture change”, needs to be

organic, people will respect that you are sincereorganic, people will respect that you are sincere• Don’t step on people’s toes; try to avoid “going Don’t step on people’s toes; try to avoid “going

behind people’s backs”behind people’s backs”• Understand the chain of command; who is critical Understand the chain of command; who is critical

to involve in the changeto involve in the change• Be aware of your own cynicism, easy to get Be aware of your own cynicism, easy to get

disillusioned; need something to bring you back up disillusioned; need something to bring you back up

More good ideasMore good ideas• Challenge your own internal barriers, thoughtsChallenge your own internal barriers, thoughts• Don’t forget to step back and reflect on what’s going on, Don’t forget to step back and reflect on what’s going on,

why you’re doing it, what strategies will helpwhy you’re doing it, what strategies will help• Also shut up and listenAlso shut up and listen• Get champions on your team (people who can bring onboard Get champions on your team (people who can bring onboard

others)others)• Don’t forget freindship as a motivating factorDon’t forget freindship as a motivating factor• Give people credit for when they have made the change; Give people credit for when they have made the change;

acknowledge effort and success; THANK YOU goes a LONG acknowledge effort and success; THANK YOU goes a LONG way!way!

• Recognize that you yourself may need to changeRecognize that you yourself may need to change• Be your own (gentle) critic; beware of your own flawed Be your own (gentle) critic; beware of your own flawed

thinkingthinking• You are learner and expert at once, sometimes all in one dayYou are learner and expert at once, sometimes all in one day• When is it right to toot your own horn, when is it just When is it right to toot your own horn, when is it just

important to see that the change happensimportant to see that the change happens

Bread for the Journey …Bread for the Journey …

If you focus on results, you If you focus on results, you will never changewill never change..

If you focus on change, you If you focus on change, you will get resultswill get results. .

Jack DixonJack Dixon

Good luck and stay in touch!