Successful culture change depends on disrupting the status quo

One in three major organisational changes fail to achieve the efficiency or effectiveness objectives that lie behind them. Ben Bryant, from London Business School, will discuss how leadersí actions can make or break effective cultural change at HRD 2006, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Developmentís (CIPD) annual learning and development conference and exhibition.

Ben Bryant, Fellow, Centre for Management Development at London Business School, says, ìSome leaders get sucked into reinforcing the predictability of the work environment. Human resource development (HRD) professionals play a critical role in helping leaders to create an environment where itís OK to question and challenge ñ this is what really brings about significant culture change. HRD professionals need to act as change agents, challenging the businesses leaders to be more aware of the impact of their actions on the desired culture change.

ìAll too often leaders and HRD professionals believe the answer lies in formal culture change programmes, but our research shows that leaders who are more aware of the impact of their unconscious, day to day behaviours and actions can challenge the status quo and actually make culture change happen.î

HRD professionals can also help shape culture change through facilitating so called ëcultural conversationsí, according to Bryant; ìRather than focussing on communicating an inspirational vision for culture change, HRD professionals need to encourage interactive conversations that move the organisation towards its desired culture. This is a risky approach, but itís the only way to achieve real culture change.

ìHRD professionals have a critical role to play in developing the awareness and skills of leaders who shape culture change ñ they must become the activists. They need to be skilful at challenging senior managers, and they need to be comfortable with the risks of letting the change process enter unchartered waters.î

Ben Bryant will be speaking at HRD, CIPD’s annual Learning, Training and Development Conference and Exhibition, on Thursday 6 April.