When there is change, often there is resistance. Resistance is one of the most powerful drivers of human behaviour. This resistance to change consequently creates a challenge for leaders. Most organizations make two fatal mistakes when it comes to dealing with resistance to change. First, they underestimate how important, deeply rooted cultures, behaviours and thinking styles play a part in the change process. Secondly, they underestimate what is required to change those behaviours and thinking styles and ensure the change isn't interpreted as a threat.

So how can an organisation successfully change with so many differences and so much resistance? In reality if you don't convince people that change is beneficial, they may initially comply yet consciously or subconsciously become saboteurs to the change effort. This is often because their old established behaviours and thinking patterns are rooted in a belief that says 'this is how I've survived around here so why change?' No matter what culture you are from, change is resisted because people:

i) Like to do what is familiar
ii) Respond to 'threats of survival' by resisting or fighting
iii) Respond first with emotion then with logic

In 2003 The Evans & Peck team needed a tool for organisational change initiatives. They wanted a tool to aid communication across cultures, values and languages. We worked with a cartoonist to create a new and revolutionary technique called Cartaphor Technology. The process, in part, involves building buy-in through facilitating collaborative planning sessions which map out the “Desired Furture State” of the organisation. The concepts created from those discussions, are turned into metaphors and the metaphors are turned into pictures in the form of a cartoon. Hence the name Cartaphor (a metaphor drawn in the style of a cartoon) was created. The practice of Cartaphors is now spreading across the world as facilitators and leaders move into the new world of Agile Business Leadership.

The power of Cartaphor Technology lies within the facilitated development of the organization's specific metaphor. By using proven facilitation techniques, knowledge and wisdom is extracted from the group and collaboratively used to develop the final product. The completed Cartaphor provides a visual representation and narrative of the path towards the 'Desired Future'. By creating this visual representation of the situation, all employees begin to believe their issues are addressed and they see hope for the future through positive visualisations.

This is our Cartaphor which tells the story of how we work with clients....