How to Move a "Giant": 7 Lessons Learned for Making a Change in a Large Organization.

ABSTRACT

Bringing about change in a large organization can be a herculean task, similar to tales of old with the hero overcoming the slow and powerful giant. In this article, we discuss some of the lessons learned from our own journey 1) Don't present your ideas in a whisper because you are afraid of feedback; share your project with a megaphone, because feedback can only result in a better product; 2) Be enthusiastic; every discussion about your practice is an opportunity to engage others; 3) Focus on those who are willing to participate in your vision; don't spend too much time and energy on naysayers; 4) Use the language of your audience. You do not need to become an expert in every subject matter, but you must be able to verbalize your project in a way that matches their terminology and priorities; 5) Streamline your facts and present enough information to remove the frightening unknown, but not so much that the details distract from the purpose; 6) Share your results, successes, and struggles; your authentic efforts will affect your audience far more than promises or predictions; and 7) Couple the fires of passion with the cold determination of commitment; the combination will help you persevere and achieve success.