Unlocking organizational potential by addressing readiness for change through creativity techniques

Abstract

70% of the change initiatives fail to achieve their objectives (Kerber & Buono, 2005). Peak4 is a consultancy firm that helps companies implement change by focusing on culture, human interactions, and personal guidance on four levels: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. The project’s objective is to explore how creativity techniques can be used to increase the impact of the Peak4 programs by analyzing the client’s needs, values and expectations with a more standardized approach.

Readiness for change was found to be an important factor in the implementation of planned change initiatives. It influences both the innovation process of an organization, and the organizational culture, both a focus of the Peak4 service. Creativity is the fuel of innovation. The use of creativity techniques can target the client’s motivation, readiness for change, and acquire insights into the situation and different perspectives within the client’s organization, targeting knowledge of multiple levels of deepness. Moreover, the use of surprising creativity techniques, fits the style of current Peak4 interactions. Peak4 currently uses the initial client inquiry as a foundation for their design and change process. However, a problem changes when more information on the context is uncovered throughout the process. A more iterative approach is advised to tackle the Kerber and Buono problem, and improve the Peak4 impact.

With the current growth of Peak4, change and professionalization are high priority. This comes with the concern that a more rigid structure and approach is not in line with Peak4 values and culture. The most important strength of the Peak4 is its strong, personal connection with the client, resulting in tailor made programs with sustainable impact.

The greatest opportunity for a to be designed toolkit can be found in the sales phase of the Peak4 process. Focusing on the beginning of the process allows the follow up steps in the process to retain their experimental nature while providing opportunities for further standardization. It also provides the chance to initiate a bold move for a real connection, that creates a trustworthy environment and relationship. This interaction initiates an iterative approach. It sets the tone for a real partnership and allows Peak 4 to carefully select projects that match the Peak4 strategy.

The Discovering Desire toolkit offers a sales interaction that allows the consultant to co-create a clear project brief with a potential client in a challenging but supportive way making the client feel inspired and empowered to change as it offers the client a taste of what a Peak4 partnership could be like. It consists of a session, a canvas, and a facilitator manual. The canvas ensures that at the end of the session, both parties have a tangible product that illustrates the patterns that underlie the client’s problems, a shared vision statement, and suggestions for next steps. To fit the experimental nature of Peak4, the blueprint inside the manual can be used to design a session of your own. Every Peak4 consultant can put their own twist to their client’s session.