Martin Training Associates

Maximizing Project Success:
The Project Leader and the Change Leader

By Cathy Cassidy and Paula Martin

Every time a project is executed something changes. You, as the project leader manage both the project and team processes to create the deliverables. But who's leading the change process? When the change is large enough, like a merger, there will most likely be a core project team leading the change. However, if your team is the core project team, it's your job as Project Leader to be the Change Leader.

Why? Because resistance to change is one of the top reasons projects fail - no matter how good your deliverables are. So if you role is to make sure the project is successful, you'll need to reduce this risk for failure due to resistance.

As a Change Leader it helps to have tools that will support you in driving change with your stakeholders. So, here are five tools to help you lead change successfully:

  • A list of roles and responsibilities for everyone impacted by the project. From one employee to the division head, everyone has a responsibility to deal with the change you are creating. Employees need to accept the change or move on. Division heads need to drive change within their units. Understanding each role and its responsibility will make it easier for you to anticipate and manage resistance so you reduce your risk of failure.
  • Assess your initiative leader's readiness to lead the change. In most cases, you did not initiate the change you're creating, so you need to assess this individual's commitment to the project so that you can be a success. Just like the charter is created to understand the project scope and vision, so to should you assess their readiness. Ask yourself: are they willing to put themselves in the line of fire? do they have a vision of what the future will look like after the change is implemented? will/have they assigned energized people to support you? is your sponsor and project team ready? do you know who your change agents are?
  • Use five change coordinates for Project Leaders leading change. In Change Accountability, change leaders are given eight coordinates to follow to be successful. In your role, you need five. Here they are:
    • Collaborate with stakeholders on the anticipated and actual resistance and acceptance in their departments. You created the list of those impacted; use this as the guide for these discussions.
    • Create a sub-project team to lead the change process. If your project will have a large impact, you should create a separate sub-project team focused specifically on the change process.
    • Communicate, communicate, and communicate. The more people know, the easier it is for them to deal with change. Your initiative leader should be heading up a communication plan about what is happening and what is coming. If this becomes your team's responsibility, have the change sub-project team develop a communication plan.
    • Notice the resistance and acceptance around you. Just because someone is on your project team, doesn't mean they won't resist change. Pay attention. If there is resistance among your team, it's a given there's resistance in the stakeholder groups. This resistance is telling you something's wrong. Figure out what it is and
      fix it.
    • Guide your project team. As the project leader you already guide the team and PM process. But it's important that you guide your teams on handling and leading change within their stakeholder groups as well.
  • Involve Your Human Resources Team. HR professionals are there to support the organization through times of change. When employees are impacted by change, negative behaviors surface. Instead of trying to deal with it yourself, have HR step in and help. Also, there are great change agents among HR as well, so try to have at least one HR representative on your project team.
  • Evaluate You. You'll evaluate your success as it relates to the project. But, you should evaluate your success at encouraging change and reducing resistance. During close-out stop and assess yourself as a change leader. Did you collaborate with stakeholders to reduce resistance? Did you communicate enough? Did you guide your project team on handling and leading change? Did you fell respected as a Change Leader?

Are you ready to be the Project Leader and Change Leader? If you remember that resistance to change is one of the greatest factors for project failure, then it's your responsibility as project leader is to take on that role to ensure your project's success.