At the End State lies the alignment of vision, process and people/behavior change to business objectives. There you will find a Pot of Gold full of capital for the next initiative-if you can navigate the change path. It is winding, meandering and typically only the first leg is clear. To smooth out the journey it helps to visualize the last leg of the trip and to be clear about the end state. Like a stream down a hill the path will then appear.
What is the End State?
The environment that exists after change has taken place. Depending on the size and extent of the original initiative that can mean:
- Behavioral change by stakeholders
- Structural change for the organization
- Process change for functions and/or the organization as a whole
- Tool replacement or enhancement
- Cultural adaptation
- New Communication and Collaboration paradigms
- Different connections externally
Business objectives met
People developed
A cold and practical business approach could be taken with a project/risk/budget focus. Beware bullet one. It will always be present for any significant initiative. program and change. The non-emotional forced change watches the rainbow disappear in the fog.
As incompatible as it may seem in a business environment emotion, humility, empathy and understanding must be part of the process of defining the end state:
- How will the end state feel to stakeholders (remember as the leader that means you too)?
- Will they have lost something?
- Will they have gained something?
- Are their hands moving differently at the end state?
- Was there a learning process to get there (skills, understanding, knowledge)?
- Are they the same group of people (in other words will they have lost someone)?
- How will you, as the leader, have weathered this journey?
For it is the leaders that must, from the beginning, understand, communicate and live the last steps to the Pot of Gold.