ABSTRACT
There is a five-step process first introduced by MITSLOAN that is designed to enable change leaders to successfully navigate the politics and emotions of change by identifying and leveraging the expertise, skills, and resources of sponsors and promoters; drawing in fence-sitters; learning from positive skeptics; and addressing the concerns of negative skeptics. This chapter discusses this five-step process. In every change, politics emerge as stakeholders jockey to represent their interests. Sometimes, stakeholder groups are based on function, product, geographic region, or level. Once the key stakeholder groups are mapped, change leaders should identify the key influencers within each group – those individuals, who might be able to line up resources, enroll others, build legitimacy and momentum, and provide ideas crucial to driving the change. Sponsors and promoters are the most receptive to change. Sponsors are particularly helpful for underscoring the benefits to the customer or the organization, or for offering resources and lending support.
