A change process is like a journey, you can put your backpack on and go or you can thoroughly prepare. Whether you're traveling or on the verge of a change process, in this blog, Paul van Bekkum, one of the founders of Summiteers, explains what you need to consider to successfully arrive at your destination.

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1. Are you traveling or staying at home

Every trip — whether it's with your family or a group of friends — starts with the decision to take the trip. Some people can't live without traveling regularly, others prefer to stay safe in their own backyard. This also applies to a change process. For example, I recently had a conversation with an organization that was on the verge of a major change process, and where the question suddenly arose: do we actually want to take on this process? If there is no support, it is better to stay where you are sitting. Or try really hard to do that to still create support.

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2. The destination

If you decide to go on a trip, you should first agree on the destination. That may sound crazy, but make no mistake. We are happy to work with Katja Staartjes, the first Dutch woman to climb Mount Everest. She knows better than anyone how important it is to really talk to each other beforehand about where you want to end up. Sometimes people think they're talking about the same mountain top, but each mountain has different peaks. If you're not sure which top — read: destination — you're talking about, chances are you'll never end up in the right place at the right time with the right people. It is not without reason that Katja makes very nice relationships between climbing a mountain and solving a major issue within a company.

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3. The objective

Good. You are going on a trip and you have the destination in mind. Now it is time to discuss the goal. Let's say you're going to Curaçao. If you are not clear what you are going to do there, there can be considerable friction in the group. When it comes to Curaçao, some people think of days of baking on the beach, feet in the sand and a cocktail in their hand. The other is eager to hop on a boat to a different dive site at six in the morning every day. Do you want to go to an all-inclusive five-star resort in Turkey or do you go — at the risk of your life — for a jungle trek through the Darién Gap, between Panama and Colombia? So make sure you know the purpose of the trip — or name it the vision when it comes to a change process — you are clear in detail to prevent that friction.

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4. Preparation

Once you have a clear idea of where the trip is going and what you are going to do, the preparation begins. What do you bring with you? What do you find out before you leave? What do you arrange along the way? Are you going for an organized tour with a guide who shows you the way, or do you opt for more adventure and go exploring on your own? A similar preparation applies to a change process. What resources, knowledge and expertise are needed to make the change process a success? Do you do everything yourself or do you opt for external support? There is no right or wrong, but it is essential to make the right preparations and identify the resources needed to make the journey smooth and the road to success.

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5. The trip

Now, finally, the actual journey begins. It's time to enjoy the experience and take full advantage of the opportunities that arise along the way. Take photos, send vlogs to the home front, and share your experiences with others. Raise a glass with your friends to celebrate the trip — and the destination. Now is the time to reap the benefits of all the hard work and preparation you've done.

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A change process is not a vacation

Of course, we realize that the analogy is only partly true. If all is well, you make a trip voluntarily, while a change process is often not a choice. You may have to go through a change process to stay ahead of the competition, meet the requirements of supervisors, or to face other challenges. But if you do have to undergo a change process, get proper guidance. We are professional vacation planners and professional travel guides. If you're not an experienced traveller yourself, it's nice to be able to rely on someone who has made a similar trip a thousand times before. And if there are unexpected events along the way, it's nice to be able to call someone for help, just like you can contact your insurance company, travel advisor, or guide during a trip. Whether you opt for a luxury trip with all the trimmings or a camping flight, we'll help you make the most of your budget and discuss how you can best use the available resources in the change process.

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Need help with strategy and execution?

We create movement, make something that is complex understandable again, something big, manageable, a (vague) idea concrete and make something difficult succeed. Can you use help with this? Take contact with us. Interested, but no concrete issue yet? Follow our LinkedIn page and get inspired.

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