The four stages of change –“Forming, Storming, Norming and Performing,” represent the biggest challenge to the Obama Administration. The four stages are always part of any change process – regardless of scale, complexity, or any other factors. In the case of the Obama Administration - still in Stage One - the most challenging stages, where effective leadership is most critical - are yet to come.
Stage One – Forming - is where excitement, optimism, enthusiasm, expectations, energy and conviction are the highest they will ever be. This is the stage where everything is seen as a possibility. It's the stage where concepts, convictions, ideas and philosophies are transformed into plans of action. There aren't too many boundaries around the Stage of Forming. Dreams and hopes and visions all contribute to the goals and aspirations in this Stage. The higher the expectations, the more energy and commitment can be sustained and momentum generated – but with the risk that the fall in Stage Two will be harder than if expectations are based on reality, and not on ideals. Think post election and all the initiatives that have been introduced in the first six months of the Obama Administration. Think “a crisis too good to waste.”
In Stage Two - Storming – reality starts to set in. Reality in the form of scarce resources, differing opinions, unforeseen changes in circumstances, and a host of other things that keep those goals set with such high expectations in Stage One from happening – or at least not happening on the overly optimistic schedule set during Forming. This is the most dangerous stage in the four stage process. More changes lose their way and fail as a result of frustration from unrealized expectations than any single other cause. This is where frustration sets in, idealists desert the ship when they see their interests not being met to their satisfaction. Think “ How are we going to pay for this?” Or “Is this really necessary?” Or “We're trying to do too much too soon!” Or “This isn't what I expected or signed up for!” This Stage is starting to develop – and it is the single biggest obstacle – and opportunity – for the Obama Administration.
Stage Three – Norming – is that stage where the lessons of Stages One and Two are used to create a more realistic, attainable program of change. A lot of goals and initiatives never reach this Stage – they die in Stage Two of anger, suspicion, frustration and the very weight of their expectations. The goals that do survive to be reset in this Stage have the benefit of real world experience - of striving for more but coming up short. But rather than abandon the goal, new norms of what represents success, and new norms of performance are established. Success in change depends on strong, practical leadership that can effectively channel the intention, the commitment, the experience and the frustration into an objective, proactive force to see new ways of looking at how to meet the goals for the enterprise – in this case the enterprise is the nation. The Obama Administration isn't here yet.
Stage Four – Performing – is the Stage where success becomes evident – where all the expectations and intentions of Forming, all the trials and tribulations of Storming, and the give and take of Norming, result in the alignment of available resources to achieve attainable goals. The changes that get achieved may be far different from what was started with in Stage One. I truly hope, for the nations sake, we can get there on the truly important priorities - but there are so many expectations, so many promises to so many interest groups, and so many circumstances that will work against the expectations of Stage One.
Let's hope the messy art of politics - which is subject to the same four stages of change as any other segment of our society - can deal with the storm of Stage Two, and create from it a realistic set of initiatives that will keep our nation moving in a positive direction. Certainly, the expectations of Stage One cannot be sustained. And at some point that fact has to be made clear to the country. “Yes we can” is very different from “Yes we will.”
Stage One – Forming - is where excitement, optimism, enthusiasm, expectations, energy and conviction are the highest they will ever be. This is the stage where everything is seen as a possibility. It's the stage where concepts, convictions, ideas and philosophies are transformed into plans of action. There aren't too many boundaries around the Stage of Forming. Dreams and hopes and visions all contribute to the goals and aspirations in this Stage. The higher the expectations, the more energy and commitment can be sustained and momentum generated – but with the risk that the fall in Stage Two will be harder than if expectations are based on reality, and not on ideals. Think post election and all the initiatives that have been introduced in the first six months of the Obama Administration. Think “a crisis too good to waste.”
In Stage Two - Storming – reality starts to set in. Reality in the form of scarce resources, differing opinions, unforeseen changes in circumstances, and a host of other things that keep those goals set with such high expectations in Stage One from happening – or at least not happening on the overly optimistic schedule set during Forming. This is the most dangerous stage in the four stage process. More changes lose their way and fail as a result of frustration from unrealized expectations than any single other cause. This is where frustration sets in, idealists desert the ship when they see their interests not being met to their satisfaction. Think “ How are we going to pay for this?” Or “Is this really necessary?” Or “We're trying to do too much too soon!” Or “This isn't what I expected or signed up for!” This Stage is starting to develop – and it is the single biggest obstacle – and opportunity – for the Obama Administration.
Stage Three – Norming – is that stage where the lessons of Stages One and Two are used to create a more realistic, attainable program of change. A lot of goals and initiatives never reach this Stage – they die in Stage Two of anger, suspicion, frustration and the very weight of their expectations. The goals that do survive to be reset in this Stage have the benefit of real world experience - of striving for more but coming up short. But rather than abandon the goal, new norms of what represents success, and new norms of performance are established. Success in change depends on strong, practical leadership that can effectively channel the intention, the commitment, the experience and the frustration into an objective, proactive force to see new ways of looking at how to meet the goals for the enterprise – in this case the enterprise is the nation. The Obama Administration isn't here yet.
Stage Four – Performing – is the Stage where success becomes evident – where all the expectations and intentions of Forming, all the trials and tribulations of Storming, and the give and take of Norming, result in the alignment of available resources to achieve attainable goals. The changes that get achieved may be far different from what was started with in Stage One. I truly hope, for the nations sake, we can get there on the truly important priorities - but there are so many expectations, so many promises to so many interest groups, and so many circumstances that will work against the expectations of Stage One.
Let's hope the messy art of politics - which is subject to the same four stages of change as any other segment of our society - can deal with the storm of Stage Two, and create from it a realistic set of initiatives that will keep our nation moving in a positive direction. Certainly, the expectations of Stage One cannot be sustained. And at some point that fact has to be made clear to the country. “Yes we can” is very different from “Yes we will.”
Written by Andy Cox, President
Cox Consulting Group, 4049 E Vista Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85032 Ph: 602-795-4100; Fax: 602-795-4800; E Mail: acox@coxconsultgroup.com;Website:www.coxconsultgroup.com; Blog: http://multiplysuccess.blogspot.com
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