Ava S. Butler

Organizational Development Consultant and Leadership Coach

Fifteen Techniques for Implementing Decisions: #8 Project Charters

December 21, 2014
Ava S. Butler

“I’ve been asked to lead a change project within my company, but I’m not really sure what is expected. What should I do?”

#8: Project Charter

What is a Project Charter?

A Project Charter is a one page document that describes the new project’s:

  • Objectives
  • Measures and targets – both financial and non-financial
  • Deliverables
  • Assumptions re: support requirements, risks, inter-dependencies, etc.
  • The Project Sponsor (the leader ultimately accountable for the project’s success) the Project Manager (the person who leads the project on a day-to-day basis), and Team Members (people assigned to the project either full or part time), and Continue reading →
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Implementing Change, Techniques to Implement Decisions, Transformation Tools
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Fifteen Techniques for Implementing Decisions: #7 Transformation Map

December 7, 2014
Ava S. Butler

“My leadership team and I have a pretty clear idea of where we want to be in the next 5 years, but don’t know exactly how to get there. There are so many issues and improvements to address. It’s hard to get our heads around them. What suggestions do you have?”

#7: Transformation Map

What is a Transformation Map?

A Transformation Map is a one page visual depiction of the plan for implementing a strategy or goal. It describes the major results, actions and milestones required to achieve your strategic goal, along with the expected timing of Continue reading →

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Implementing Change, Techniques to Implement Decisions, Transformation Tools
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Fifteen Techniques for Implementing Decisions: #6 Goal Plan Go

November 24, 2014
Ava S. Butler

“I read that there is a higher likelihood that goals will be obtained if the work to achieve those goals is started immediately. I have a goal-setting meeting coming up with a large group of people. After we set goals, I would like to start some of the implementation planning as soon as possible. Is there a technique that will help me do this?”

#6: Goal Plan Go

What is Goal Plan Go?

Goal Plan Go is a technique that invites your meeting participants to take responsibility for transforming the group’s goals into action. The process allows individuals Continue reading →

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Implementing Change, Meeting facilitation, Techniques to Implement Decisions
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Fifteen Techniques for Implementing Decisions: #5 Force Field Analysis

November 20, 2014
Ava S. Butler

“There are a number of competing groups within my organization. Sometimes a good idea can be squelched because the people who thought of and developed the idea did not consider its potential opposition. Is there a systematic process to deal with this type of potential problem?”

#5:  Force Field Analysis

What is Force Field Analysis?

Force Field Analysis is a technique that involves identifying both the forces that support and the forces that resist a decision or change, and then determining how to strengthen the positive forces and weaken the negative forces so that the change can Continue reading →

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Fifteen Techniques for Implementing Decisions: #4 Individual Action Planning

November 17, 2014
Ava S. Butler

“Sometimes I wish people would take responsibility for their own part in implementation. We have people from different areas of the organization in the room and I they would say what they will do to help us achieve our goals. Do you have any suggestions?”

#4: Individual Action Planning

What is Individual Action Planning?

Individual Action Planning is a simple technique for identifying individual commitments and contributions to the implementation of a goal.

In this process, each individual in the meeting group publicly states what he or she intends to do to support the newly agreed-upon Continue reading →

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Implementing Change, Meeting facilitation, Techniques to Implement Decisions, Transformation Tools
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Fifteen Techniques for Implementing Decisions: #3 Test for Support

November 9, 2014
Ava S. Butler

“Even though our group approves a decision for implementation, sometimes I get the feeling that there isn’t total support for that decision. Is there a technique that would better ascertain true levels of support before we begin implementation?”

#3: Test for Support

What is Test for Support?

Test for Support is a technique that provides a process for discovering how much true support there is for a decision, goal, or action plan that has already been approved.

One cannot assume enthusiastic support from all group members simply because a decision has been approved by the group. This misguided assumption Continue reading →

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Fifteen Techniques for Implementing Decisions: #2 SMART Goals

November 5, 2014
Ava S. Butler

“I think the goals we set are clear and agreed upon during our meetings, but even hours later there seems to be little agreement about exactly what we agreed to. How can we avoid this problem?”

#2:  SMART Goals

What are SMART Goals?

The SMART Goals technique helps you obtain clear agreement from your meeting group about exactly what is meant by any particular goal. This technique is also excellent for improving the likelihood that a specific goal will be implemented to the satisfaction of everyone who is involved.

The SMART in SMART Goals is an Continue reading →

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Fifteen Techniques for Implementing Decisions: #1 Chart Actions

October 30, 2014
Ava S. Butler

Meetings are more powerful and effective with an implementation, next steps, or action component. But while many groups agree on where they want to go and what they need to do, few plan how to get there. This often results in conflict, confusion and diminished effectiveness. Gaining agreement on how these group decisions will be carried out strongly increases the likelihood of success.

The 15 Techniques for Implementing Decisions demonstrate how to efficiently move a meeting group toward action. These techniques ensure agreement on actions, clarify roles and responsibilities, and formulate plans for review and follow-up.

Techniques include:

  1. Chart Actions Continue reading →
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Techniques to Implement Decisions
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