Speed often defines success in the world of change, where organisations are under constant pressure to adapt and transform. Whether it's introducing cutting-edge technologies, restructuring teams, or refining processes, the race is on: boost efficiency and productivity before the technology changes again, or the competition does it first.
Yet, a major speed bump in change management is the delay in securing essential resources. Waiting periods caused by unforeseen delays in change may seem to have little consequence at first, but the effects can cascade through project timelines, budgets, stakeholder trust, and overall project momentum.
Consequences of Unforeseen Delays in Change
Budget Impacts
Delays in obtaining change management resources can lead to unexpected budget issues. Costs can rise by as much as 20% while organisations stall on resource acquisition. Initially, it might seem that holding off on expenditures is prudent. However, when scrambling for last-minute resources or talent, options become limited and prices can soar.
Consider this: if an organisation delays hiring needed expertise for a technology implementation, they may later incur an additional 15% to 25% in costs. Extended timelines also mean more resource consumption than initially projected. Often, the extra time needed will lead to expenditures that blow the original budget out of the water.
Ultimately, these factors underscore a critical lesson: hesitation may not save money, but may in fact result in costs that far exceed initial estimates, ruining financial projections and leading to a tight budget.
Timeline Challenges
Prolonged delays in obtaining resources create significant obstacles to project timelines. When teams wait for the "perfect" timing or resource, they often misjudge how long the project will take. Project timelines can extend by 30% or more due to these delays.
As the schedule stretches, a domino effect occurs. Teams start to shift their attention to other priorities, diminishing focus on the original initiative. This shifting focus leads to rushed decision-making later on, compromising quality.
Keeping a project on track requires nimble adjustments. If the timeline stretches too long, initial enthusiasm dissipates, making it harder to maintain commitment. Employees may lose their excitement about the project, creating disconnects and missing opportunities that could have enhanced the outcome.
Stakeholder Communication Delays
Clear communication is essential during any change process. However, when resource delays occur, effective communication with stakeholders can break down. Stakeholders who aren’t updated regularly will inevitably experience a drop in engagement.
When timelines shift or resources dwindle, stakeholders can feel neglected or uninformed. Not only is this impact virtually invisible, this barrier to communication can lead to mistrust and disengagement. Expectations may shift without clear dialogue, jeopardising relationships that took years to build.
Delayed updates can also spawn misunderstandings about project statuses. As uncertainty clouds the change initiative, stakeholder buy-in can diminish, causing further complications in securing the resources necessary for success.
Difficulty Rebuilding Momentum
One of the biggest hurdles organisations face during resource delays is a loss of momentum. At the start, everyone is typically energised by the prospect of change. However, long waits can drain enthusiasm and foster complacency.
Project teams regularly report struggling to reignite momentum after significant delays. Once the initial drive fades, it becomes increasingly difficult to rally support, especially when employees have pivoted their focus to other tasks.
Rebuilding this lost momentum often demands extra time and effort that could have gone into the project itself. Instead of riding the initial wave of excitement, organisations find themselves battling fatigue caused by drawn-out waiting periods.
What's Causing Delays?
Delays in organisational changes and projects can arise from various sources.
Poor planning and execution, including unclear objectives, inadequate resources, unrealistic timelines, and ineffective project management, frequently contribute to delays. There can be such pressure to solve modern business problems quickly, that up front planning time is often sacrificed.
Lack of buy-in from employee resistance, insufficient leadership support, and poor communication, can also hinder progress. When stakeholders or impacted groups feel inadequately consulted, resistance can easily arise that causes delays. When this occurs, projects often face a double whammy, needing to pause and return to the consultation process before proceeding.
External factors like economic downturns, technological challenges, regulatory changes, and many other unforeseen events can disrupt project timelines. When projects have been budgeted and approved, they have a narrow window in which to gain momentum. If a critical mass in support, delivery and progress is not achieved early, projects are more susceptible to delays from external factors.
Internal factors, such as a lack of skills and expertise, a resistant organisational culture, and internal politics, can further complicate the change process.
To mitigate these delays, organisations must prioritise thorough planning and risk assessment up front, effective communication and stakeholder management, strong leadership support, focused employee engagement, and regular monitoring and adjustments to the project plan. It also pays to have good alternatives available to shore up resourcing gaps.
Integrating Alternatives
Rather than waiting for ideal resources, organisations can explore alternative strategies. Building a strong business case for change often helps in justifying investments more effectively. Exploring interim solutions—like temporary hires or rapid team augmentation—can facilitate progress.
Moreover, investing in training programs for current team members can help fill skill gaps. Companies that focus on upskilling enjoy an increase in employee productivity. This not only keeps the team engaged but also mitigates the negative impacts of waiting.
By embracing these alternatives, organisations can maintain their commitment to change while navigating the complexities of resource acquisition, keeping initiatives on track and avoiding the exponential time and cost consequences of early delays.
Embracing Change Without Delay
The desire to wait for (seemingly) perfect conditions can have lasting repercussions on budgets, timelines, communication, and momentum. It is crucial for organisations to recognise and address these pitfalls proactively.
By building in options that remain adaptable and responsive to change, organisations can ensure they stay the course. Prioritising transparency and urgency in the change management process opens doors to successful outcomes and champions growth.
Navigating change requires a balance of patience and action. By understanding the implications of delays, organisations can cultivate a more agile environment that enhances the probability of long-term success.
Creative Alternatives
Agencia Change offers consulting services that provide as much or as little change management as you need - immediately. The ability to hire senior, experienced change and communications staff at short notice means you won't waste time with onboarding and will experience the benefit of expert focus, targeted questions and getting immediate insights, recommendations and action.
Short term hires allow projects to proceed, providing the necessary knowledge and resources to progress outcomes quickly and cost-effectively.
Further, organisations can supplement existing team resources with change management coaching to learn or deepen change and communication skills. A coach that works with your team one-on-one can help to more rapidly shape change and communications delivery. By focussing on essential skills, proven toolkit and targeted strategies, team capability is enhanced significantly.
To find out more about how to keep hitting change targets during unforeseen delays, book some time with Agencia Change.
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