Resistance to change is normal, but there are ways to move people to make changes, without forcing them!
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica (BIVI) is hosting its third annual “Area Regional Control of PRRS” seminar in Chicago today, prior to the start of the 2010 International PRRS Symposium. Since the concept of ARC is a regional approach, it requires the participation of all hog producers in a relatively small area to work, and sometimes that involves overcoming resistance to change.
Ryan Bracken (pictured on the right) with Global Six Sigma and Carl Aspler (left) of Carl Aspler & Associates presented some change management strategies for the participants in the workshop. Ryan has a background for utilizing the methodology of Six Sigma with hog production companies to help them with problem solving. “Building the case for change is one key element,” Ryan says. “People assume that just because they understand the need for elimination of PRRS that others will understand it as well.”
Listen to an interview with Ryan here here: Ryan Bracken
Carl noted that the effectiveness of change is a combination of the technical aspects and people, but the people part of the equation is often the most difficult. He presented methods of identifying problems and overcoming resistance from key stakeholders that can and are used successfully in all sizes of companies and organizations, as well as in everyday life. “The key questions are who’s out there, what are their concerns, and what can I do to make them feel more comfortable with this project?,” Carl says. Communication is key, as well as sitting down with pencil and paper and mapping out clear strategy.
Listen to an interview with Carl here here: Carl Aspler