In this podcast episode of Becoming Inclusive, the hosts welcomed Hanlie van Wyk, a global change management consultant, to talk about conscious change enablement using a “human forward” instead of a “process forward” approach.

The thrust of the conversation mainly focuses on the behavioral aspects people undergo when confronted with change—be it major or minor. As human beings, we’re all constantly experiencing change and although it can cause anxiety or even outright fear, in most instances we adapt as needed.

According to Hanlie, behavioral change is not seen as something that requires practice and time for transitioning to the desired new behaviors, especially as it relates to organizational culture. Culture, Hanlie says merely a “collection of values of the people within the company.”

In terms of DEI, this is a significant topic. Sustainable change takes a lot of time to develop a strategy aligned with the organization's priorities and goals. It also needs metrics and benchmarks to evaluate the degree of change occurring. In developing those strategies, the human factor is critical. We can easily change a process or a procedure and mandate compliance, but if we do it thoughtfully we’re more likely to realize the sustainable change that really does move the needle from the DEI perspective. 

The Kaleidoscope Group is a full service Diversity, Equity & Inclusion firm in Chicago serving clients world-wide. We can help you develop organizational change that actively engages everybody in your organization, turning resistance into energy and motivation for change. Let’s talk about where you’d like to go and how to get there. Visit us at https://kgdiversity.com