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Driving Change

Ladan Kamfar

This course provides the skills and resources leaders need to accelerate the process of implementing change with their team members and to create an agile work environment where people are more open to change.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • At the end of this course, the learner will be able to:
  • Accelerate the process of making change happen
  • Minimize the potential negative effects change can have on productivity, morale, and collaboration
  • Turn resistance into commitment and inspire team members to take ownership of change
  • Communicate the business rationale and benefits of change for the team and the organization

Syllabus

Your Role in the Business of Change: Teams find and identify best practices for implementing change. The facilitator leads a discussion about why change initiatives fail. Learners are introduced to three Change Accelerators. Participants discuss the business rationale and expected benefits related to their change situations.
Read more

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Develops skills to minimize negative effects of change on productivity, morale, and collaboration, which are crucial for effective leadership
Provides skills to inspire team members to take ownership of change, which is essential for fostering a proactive and engaged workforce
Explores the importance of empathy and involvement in meeting personal needs during change, which are key to successful change management
Examines typical reactions to change and the importance of moving people toward embracing it, which is a common challenge in organizational settings
Requires participants to identify an aspect of their change situation that can be controlled or influenced, which may require additional resources
Teaches best practices for implementing change, which may not align with all organizational cultures or specific industry standards

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Reviews summary

Practical guide to leading change

According to learners, Driving Change is a largely positive course, particularly valued for providing practical tools and applicable concepts for leading teams. Students highlight the strong focus on the human side of change, including empathy, personal needs, and overcoming resistance. The skill practice exercises are frequently mentioned as helpful for applying the material. However, a common criticism is that the course can feel basic or too theoretical for those with prior experience or seeking advanced techniques. Some also found the video examples simplistic. It seems especially well-suited for those new to leading change.
Skill practice exercises aid in applying concepts.
"The skill practice exercises were very helpful in applying the ideas..."
"The exercises helped solidify the concepts."
"The skill practice was good..."
Strong emphasis on empathy and human reactions to change.
"I particularly liked the focus on empathy and involvement..."
"Valuable insights into the human side of change."
"The material on resistance was particularly insightful."
"It's focused on the human element of change, which is crucial."
Offers practical tools for leading teams through change.
"The concepts were well-explained and highly applicable to my job."
"It provided practical tools I could immediately use with my team."
"It simplifies complex change processes into actionable steps."
"This course is highly practical and relevant."
Video examples perceived as staged or too simple.
"The video examples were a bit staged."
"The videos were simplistic."
Some desired more depth on practical implementation.
"I felt some parts could have gone deeper into practical implementation strategies..."
"It was too theoretical and didn't provide enough concrete examples..."
"I expected more practical, hands-on guidance for real-world challenges."
May feel too basic for those with prior knowledge.
"The course content was okay, but a bit basic if you've already read management books..."
"It felt like an introduction rather than an in-depth dive."
"I was hoping for more advanced techniques."
"This course is better for someone new to leading change, not for intermediate or advanced practitioners."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Driving Change with these activities:
Review 'Leading Change' by John Kotter
Gain a deeper understanding of change management principles and frameworks to enhance your ability to lead change initiatives effectively.
View Change: How Organizations Achieve Hard-to... on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book 'Leading Change'.
  • Identify the 8-step process.
  • Relate the steps to the course.
Review 'Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard' by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
Explore a different perspective on change management and learn practical strategies for overcoming resistance.
View Making Numbers Count: The Art and Science of... on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book 'Switch'.
  • Understand the Rider, Elephant, Path analogy.
  • Apply the strategies to your change situation.
Create a Presentation on Change Reactions
Solidify your understanding of the four typical reactions to change and how to address them by creating a presentation.
Show steps
  • Research the four reactions to change.
  • Develop a presentation outline.
  • Create presentation slides.
  • Practice your presentation.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Role-Play Change Scenarios
Practice responding to resistance and applying empathy and involvement skills in realistic change scenarios with a peer.
Show steps
  • Find a peer to practice with.
  • Create change scenarios.
  • Role-play the scenarios.
  • Provide feedback to each other.
Develop a Change Communication Plan
Apply the course's communication principles by creating a detailed communication plan for a specific change initiative.
Show steps
  • Identify a change initiative.
  • Define the target audience.
  • Develop key messages.
  • Choose communication channels.
  • Create a communication schedule.
Implement a Small Change Initiative
Apply the course's principles and Change Accelerators by leading a small change initiative within your team or organization.
Show steps
  • Identify a small change to implement.
  • Apply Change Accelerators.
  • Monitor and adjust your approach.
  • Document the results.
Create a Change Management Resource Guide
Deepen your understanding of change management by compiling a resource guide with articles, templates, and tools.
Show steps
  • Research change management resources.
  • Select relevant articles and templates.
  • Organize the resources into a guide.
  • Add your own insights and notes.

Career center

Learners who complete Driving Change will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Project Manager
A Project Manager is responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects, often involving significant changes to existing processes or systems. This course, with its focus on accelerating change implementation, helps them navigate the challenges of shepherding projects through an organization. The course’s learning objectives, such as minimizing negative impacts of change, turning resistance into commitment, and communicating the benefits of change, are directly relevant to the daily tasks of a project manager. The course’s syllabus, which covers understanding reactions to change and meeting individual needs during change, gives the project manager the people skills required to handle the human side of project management. The section on gaining control is particularly relevant in project management since a project manager must often direct a team in the face of the uncertainty of change. A project manager would benefit from this course.
See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager
Program Manager
A Program Manager is responsible for overseeing multiple related projects and initiatives, often involving significant organizational change. This course will greatly assist them in accelerating the process of making change happen. This course also focuses on minimizing the negative effects that change can have on productivity, morale, and collaboration. This focus directly aligns with the program manager's goals. The ability to turn resistance to change into commitment is of tremendous value for a program manager. The syllabus, covering topics such as understanding reactions to change, personal needs, and regaining control, teaches skills that are key to helping a team navigate organizational change. A program manager will benefit from this course.
See salaries and explore the career path for Program Manager
Team Leader
A Team Leader is responsible for guiding a team towards achieving its goals, often in the face of organizational or project-based change. This course directly helps a team leader in accelerating the implementation of change and minimizing its negative effects on productivity, morale, and collaboration. The ability to turn resistance into commitment and inspire team members to take ownership of change, which this course emphasizes, is critical for leadership. The course's syllabus, with its focus on meeting personal needs during change and regaining control, gives team leaders the soft skills that are key to their role. The real time practice exercises in this course are of particular benefit to a team leader who needs to handle change.
See salaries and explore the career path for Team Leader
Change Management Consultant
A Change Management Consultant advises organizations on how to effectively manage transitions and transformations. This course’s emphasis on accelerating the process of making change happen will immediately aid the consultant's goals. The course, with its objectives focused on mitigating negative impacts, inspiring ownership of change, and communicating a rationale for change, addresses the core duties of this role. The syllabus's sections on understanding reactions to change and regaining control are areas in which a consultant will gain great value. A consultant will find particularly helpful the practice exercises and action planning since they allow a chance to personally hone these skills. This course may be useful for someone seeking to become a change management consultant.
See salaries and explore the career path for Change Management Consultant
Business Analyst
A Business Analyst identifies business needs, analyzes data, and recommends solutions, often dealing with changes in processes or systems. This course aids a business analyst since it teaches how to accelerate change within an organization. Because the course focuses on minimizing the downsides of change and turning resistance into commitment, a business analyst will find this class helpful. A business analyst would find the section on communicating a business rationale especially relevant to their daily work. The syllabus’s emphasis on understanding reactions and regaining control are essential skills in helping navigate change. A business analyst would benefit from taking this course.
See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst
Training and Development Manager
A Training and Development Manager is responsible for designing and delivering training programs for employees, often in response to organizational changes. This course directly relates to the manager’s role by imparting the skills and resources leaders need to accelerate change. The course's emphasis on minimizing negative impacts of change, inspiring ownership of change and communicating its benefits is especially relevant to the manager’s aims. The syllabus's focus on reactions to change, personal needs during change, and regaining control is valuable for a manager who must respond to the needs of the employee. The action planning section of the course is a good fit for a training manager’s role. This course may be helpful to a training manager.
See salaries and explore the career path for Training and Development Manager
Organizational Development Specialist
An Organizational Development Specialist works to improve the overall effectiveness of an organization, often by implementing changes in structure, processes, or culture. A key skill for this role is the ability to accelerate change, a core skill taught in this course. This specialist will leverage the course’s focus on minimizing negative impacts of change, inspiring ownership, and communicating the benefits of change. The syllabus on understanding reactions and meeting personal needs are of great importance to the specialist’s work. The model for change in the syllabus and focus on action planning align with the specialist’s responsibility for planning a positive, successful transformation in the organization. This course may be useful for someone seeking this role.
See salaries and explore the career path for Organizational Development Specialist
Human Resources Generalist
A Human Resources Generalist is involved in various aspects of human resources, including employee relations, performance management, and organizational changes. This course’s lessons on how to accelerate change and minimize potential negative effects directly benefit a well rounded generalist. The skills of turning resistance into commitment and communicating to the organization the reasons for change are directly relevant to this role. The course's syllabus on understanding reactions to change and meeting individual needs helps the HR generalist manage employee concerns during times of organizational change. The practice exercises and action planning are useful in honing skills to be used when working with employees. An HR generalist would find this course helpful.
See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Generalist
Operations Manager
An Operations Manager is responsible for ensuring the smooth and efficient functioning of an organization's operations, including the implementation of new processes or systems. This course directly benefits an operations manager by teaching the skills to accelerate implementation of change within an organization. The goals of minimizing negativity due to change, turning resistance into commitment, and communicating the benefits of change are critical in operations management. The course syllabus, which incorporates understanding reactions to change and meeting personal needs, helps an operations manager respond effectively to difficulties during changing workflows. The action planning exercises included in the course are particularly relevant to an operations manager who must develop actionable plans for implementation.
See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager
Strategic Planner
A Strategic Planner is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to achieve organizational goals, which often involve significant changes. This course is particularly relevant to a strategic planner because it teaches how to accelerate change, a critical element of strategic implementation. This planner will find value in learning how to minimize the negative effects of change while also turning resistance into commitment. The emphasis on communicating the business rationale and benefits of change is important in this role. The course’s syllabus, with its focus on understanding reactions and meeting personal needs, gives a planner the skills needed to manage change successfully within an organization. This course could be useful to a strategic planner.
See salaries and explore the career path for Strategic Planner
Executive Director
An Executive Director is responsible for the overall management and strategic direction of an organization, often leading it through significant transitions. This course benefits an executive director by focusing on the skills and resources necessary to accelerate change within the organization. The course's learning objectives, which include minimizing the negative effects of change, turning resistance into commitment, and communicating the benefits of change, are important for an executive director. The syllabus on personal needs and regaining control can be of great use when leading an organization through change. This course may be helpful for someone in an executive director role.
See salaries and explore the career path for Executive Director
Entrepreneur
An Entrepreneur often faces many situations where change is necessary, both within a startup and within the larger market they operate in. This course will help an entrepreneur by providing the skills needed to accelerate the process of implementing change. Minimizing the negative effects of change and turning resistance into commitment are crucial lessons for a successful entrepreneur. The modules on reactions and personal needs will help an entrepreneur create a strong culture. An entrepreneur will also find the section on finding control in a situation helpful when faced with the uncertainty of a startup. This course could be useful to an entrepreneur.
See salaries and explore the career path for Entrepreneur
Management Consultant
A Management Consultant works with organizations to help solve problems, improve performance, and drive growth. This includes assisting with change management initiatives. As this course focuses on accelerating the process of making change happen, it is directly aligned to the consultant's goals. The course emphasizes mitigating the negative effects of change, turning resistance into commitment and inspiring team ownership, which are critical skills in successfully consulting. A consultant will find the sections on reactions to change, making personal connections, and regaining control particularly helpful. The course's emphasis on business rationale is especially relevant to a consultant, as they must make a case for various solutions. This course may be helpful for a consultant.
See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant
Higher Education Administrator
A Higher Education Administrator is responsible for managing various aspects of a college or university, including implementing changes in processes, programs, or policies. With its focus on accelerating organizational change, this course will be useful since higher education institutions are often slow to adapt. The stated learning objectives such as minimizing negative impacts, turning resistance into commitment, and communicating the rationale for change are highly relevant to this position. The course's syllabus, with its focus on reactions to change and meeting personal needs, is key to this position, since universities are often composed of many stakeholders. This course may be useful.
See salaries and explore the career path for Higher Education Administrator
Business Owner
A Business Owner must guide their organization through many phases, some of which require significant change. A core lesson taught by this course is how to accelerate the process of making change happen. Turning resistance into commitment and inspiring team members to take ownership of change is essential for a business owner. The syllabus’s lessons on reactions, personal needs, and regaining control are important tools for any business owner. The owner will find the focus on business rationale and expected benefits particularly relevant to running a business. A business owner may find this course useful.
See salaries and explore the career path for Business Owner

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Driving Change.
Cover image
Change
Save
Seminal work on change management, providing a comprehensive framework for leading organizational transformations. It outlines an 8-step process for successful change implementation, which complements the Change Accelerators discussed in the course. Reading this book will provide a deeper understanding of the strategic aspects of change leadership and how to overcome common pitfalls. It is widely used in business schools and by change management professionals.
Change: How Organizations Achieve Hard-to-Imagine...
Paperback
$$
Cover image
Making Numbers Count
Save
Offers a practical framework for understanding and overcoming resistance to change, focusing on the Rider, Elephant, and Path analogy. It provides actionable strategies for motivating people and making change easier. Reading this book will provide a different perspective on change management, complementing the course's focus on Change Accelerators. It valuable resource for anyone leading or participating in change initiatives.
Making Numbers Count: The Art and Science of...
Hardcover
$$
Making Numbers Count [Hardcover] By Chip Heath,...
Paperback
$$
Factfulness [Hardcover], Foolproof [Hardcover],...
Paperback
$$
Decisive, Power Of Moments, Making Numbers Count...
Paperback
$$$
Making Numbers Count: The Art and Science of...
Kindle Edition
$$

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Course image
Effort
4 to 5 hours per week for 1 week
Level
Introductory
Via
edX
Institution
Washington University in St. Louis
Instructor
Ladan Kamfar
Language
English
Transcript
English
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Develops skills to minimize negative effects of change on productivity, morale, and collaboration, which are crucial for effective leadership
Provides skills to inspire team members to take ownership of change, which is essential for fostering a proactive and engaged workforce
Explores the importance of empathy and involvement in meeting personal needs during change, which are key to successful change management
Examines typical reactions to change and the importance of moving people toward embracing it, which is a common challenge in organizational settings
Requires participants to identify an aspect of their change situation that can be controlled or influenced, which may require additional resources
Teaches best practices for implementing change, which may not align with all organizational cultures or specific industry standards
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