First Steps
This is an interesting part of the formula, which, I have to admit, I have been struggling with sometimes. The underlying point is that human behaviors gravitate so strongly back to existing patterns and habits, that even if the vision is very compelling and dissatisfaction significant—people are mostly just going to continue doing what they have been doing.
The vision becomes a “pie in the sky” without first steps, and the cynics will soon undermine the vision by adding to the resistance. Comments like “Great idea, but I want to see it before I believe it” will start undermining the project. First steps are the first, tangible or practical proof that the change is actually coming, which becomes helpful validation for those working on the change project and provides hope for the most dissatisfied. But—let's face it—first steps also kick starts the denial phase of the Kiibler-Ross model for those affected by the change: “Really? Are we starting the change already? Shouldn't someone think more about whether this change is a good idea, first...?”For project Deal Performance you have not thought of any specific first steps. Thus, we will address this topic again below.
It is worth commenting here that timing of communication is in my experience really quite key for First steps. If there is only a short time from when you announce the change project until it has been implemented the need for first steps is dramatically reduced (imagine: “we have all lost our parking spaces and your entrance cards to the garage will not work in the morning”—hardly need for first steps here...). And conversely, if there is a very long time from the time of announcing the change project until it has been implemented, the more important first steps will be.
4.4