Icebergs, Polar Bears And Change Management

Vanishing icebergs and distressed Polar bears haveareas of resistance? 3 words COMMUNICATION,
come to symbolize the effects of our changingCOMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION!
climate. The iceberg has also been used as aHere are five key messages to give focus on:
metaphor for change in organizations.1. Explain the conditions that have brought about the
The "Change Management Iceberg" developed byneed for change
Wilfred Kruger offers an explanation of why many2. Explain the detail of the change and how it will
organizational change efforts fail. Above the waterlineaffect the employee
are the three areas of concern of most3. Include a practical demonstration or teach the
managers-doing things faster, better, or cheaper.employee how to succeed in the new environment
Below the waterline are the hidden areas of4. Ask the employee how s/he feels about the
resistance which cause organizations fail!proposals; identify his/her major hang-ups and
So where are the areas of main resistance? Aboutrecognize any new problems
20% of employees will go with the change. About5. Ask for his/her suggestions for overcoming the
60% sit on the fence and wait to see what happens,problems and implementing the change using a joint
and about 20% of employees will be resistant.problem solving approach
Perceptions, attitudes, beliefs, power, and politics all playCommunicating these message may not do much for
into resistance. But this is hard to pinpoint (after all it isclimate change, but it may be key in successful
below the water line). So how do you deal with theorganizational change!