We hear a lot about "change" these days. The changing marketplace. Changing the way we do business. Embracing change. Change is good. Change is bad. There are many differing perspectives on the concept of change.
One thing that seems universal, however, is that change is difficult for almost everyone. Most of us are creatures of habit. Most of us take solace in those things that are constant in our lives. It's nice to be comfortable.
For any change that takes us out of our established comfort zone, there is typically a good reason to do so. Sometimes change comes from necessity due to changing conditions. Sometimes we change to increase our comfort for the long term. We might change because we see a deficiency that needs correcting. There are all types of reasons to implement change - rarely do we change just for the sake of change.
In business, the strongest companies are able to change and adapt to an ever-changing world. The very best seem to do it on a moment's notice and "turn-on-a-dime" when the market demands it. I would be willing to bet that these companies are able to do so because they've not only defined what change needs to take place; they've also clearly communicated the reason for the change with the people that make it happen. People can change and adapt, but they need a good reason to embrace it. Absent that, change will come eventually, but not at the pace that's necessary to stay ahead of market drivers.
Give your people the "why" behind the "what" when it comes to needed change. You might be surprised at how quickly it can happen.