Connecting for Change

27th February 2024

NHS Business Services Authority

Becoming a Change Ninja

You can’t change other people, only they can change themselves. But you can be a Change Ninja to help others see things differently by gaining new insights that help them realise that the change you are leading is a change that will bring benefits and much needed outcomes.

Are you are trying to lead and implement change but seem to find that lots of people, often those it will benefit from the change, don’t seem to want it? Do they perhaps seem afraid of change, or are resistant to doing the things you need them to do to ensure success? Do you find explaining the benefits of the change seems to have little impact on shifting them and find yourselves banging your head repeatedly against the change brick wall?

Leading change is a difficult ask as change inevitably brings a lot of challenges. But if we dig deeper into these challenges, we will likely find a common theme. And that theme is other people. Not because they are being difficult or stubborn but because they have their own thoughts, views, opinions, and beliefs about the change you are trying to lead. And it is these thoughts and beliefs that will drive their behaviours and responses.

As a change manager or leader in your field, your job is to find ways of connecting with others in a way that enables them to see that your change is good change or at least necessary change, that your change is change they want or need to embrace. The best way to do this is with brain friendly, stealth like, ninja moves. When you become a change ninja you will find that you can get others to discover for themselves the value in the change you are leading, irrespective of the size and type of change, from strategic priorities to digital transformation to process improvement. And if you do this well you will find those that might initially seem set against the change will not only become real advocates for the change but will also start to help you persuade others who are still not convinced that this change is indeed a good one to do. By adopting this approach, you will quickly find that delivery of the change becomes much easier, less time is wasted so outcomes are realised sooner, and the removal of unnecessary challenges and frustrations will make the process feel seamless. By using Change Ninja moves to connect with others, you will find that no one even notices what you are doing meaning you have mastered brain friendly (from a neuroscience perspective) change so that everyone can benefit from the anticipated outcomes the change will bring.