In the April 2009 edition of HR Magazine, John Austin describes five essential steps in an effective change management process.

1. Identify Stakeholders
2. Align Arguments to Build Momentum
3. Create and Engagement Strategy
4. Identify Trigger Events
5. Plan to be Wrong

These five steps form the basis for DSI’s Change Management executive sessions. Of course, the challenge in change management is making abstract statements, such as those five listed above, match the complexity of your specific change situation. The key is to use a live change initiative to make the change planning process relevant to your organization.

Below is a clip of Dr. Austin talking about the significance of understanding trigger events (step 4) in change planning. He uses an example from the actions of Branch Rickey, General Manager of Brooklyn Dodgers, and his signing of Jackie Robinson to illustrate the point.