As I headed along one of Hawaii’s majestic ridge trails in Wa’ahila, I heard someone coming up behind me. Quickly. I was on a dirt trail with rugged roots crossing everywhere, mud, and rocky segments that required scrambling up or jumping down. He paused to give me time to move over, then resumed running along the trail. Running!
Several of these slightly bonkers runners crossed my path when I hiked the Matterhorn in Switzerland a few years ago. They move fast, and somehow, they do not fall.
This reminded me of a TV show that set out to find the best way to transport 12 full champagne glasses on a tray in a car over a bumpy road. The answer? Drive fast! The quicker the speed, the less the spillage.
Why is it advantageous to move fast on an uneven path or road? The shock absorbers do more of the work, sucking up the bumps and skipping over obstacles.
Now, let’s talk about change: Should we move through it fast or slow?
Slow is careful. We can ensure everyone is prepared, and we have the greatest chance of successfully guiding the most people through the change. But time is expensive.
Fast gets results. Reaching the finish line sooner reduces costs. It focuses attention on what must be done. Speed leaves little room for hesitation and resistance. It also means that not everyone will be ready. We may lose some people along the way.
Both have advantages and disadvantages. I’m firmly on the side of moving fast while providing maximum support to help people succeed.
- Targeted communication
- Slim training delivered as close as possible to application
- A sense of urgency
- Normalizing a period of difficulties during transition
- Commitment to support people and solve issues as they arise
I won’t be a trail runner, but I see the advantages. They are hyper-aware of their path forward, make decisions on the fly, and cut transit time in half. Sounds like a great recipe for a change plan.
Thoughtfully yours,
Jeff Skipper
