WashU: Driving Change

At the end of this course, the learner will be able to:

• Accelerate the process of making change happen
• Minimize the potential negative effects change can have on productivity, morale, and collaboration
• Turn resistance into commitment and inspire team members to take ownership of change
• Communicate the business rationale and benefits of change for the team and the organization

• Your Role in the Business of Change: Teams find and identify best practices for implementing change. The facilitator leads a discussion about why change initiatives fail. Learners are introduced to three Change Accelerators. Participants discuss the business rationale and expected benefits related to their change situations.
• Reactions and Resistance: Facilitator introduces four typical reactions to change and the importance of moving people toward embracing it. The facilitator leads a discussion about the benefits of drawing out resistance and the importance of seeking reactions and feelings (a Change Accelerator).
• The Personal Needs of Change: Facilitator explains the critical role of Key Principles in meeting personal needs during the change, particularly Empathy and Involvement. Learners practice using these skills to respond in real time to people resisting change.
• Regaining Control: Learners identify an aspect of their change situation that can be controlled or influenced to help their team members gain control (a Change Accelerator). With a partner, they determine how they can impact a no-control factor using one of the Change Accelerators.
• A Model for Change: Facilitator leads a discussion on how leaders can use the Change Accelerators with the Interaction Guidelines to meet people’s practical needs in change discussions. Participants watch a two-part video and discuss how the leader uses these skills to move team members toward embracing the change.
• Skill Practice: Learners prepare for and conduct three rounds of skill practice using their change situations.
• Plan to Accelerate: Participants complete an action plan for helping their teams move closer to embracing change, using the skills and tips from the course.

"Class had strong interaction with participants and was very relevant to the current changes going on in my role."

Who should take this course?

Technical professionals wishing to earn Washington University's Technical Leadership Certificate. This course is designed to teach participants ways to increase their effectiveness with teams, in meetings and in individual discussion with peers, managers, vendors and customers.

Do I get a Certificate for this course?

This course is part of a larger program: The Technical Leadership Certificate. Take all 11 courses to earn the Certificate. Learn more here.