Welcome back to Built to Sustain! My regular newsletter helping organisations within the construction industry achieve sustainability success, profitably.

In my last issue I introduced a concept from Change Management to solve a common problem hindering teams when it comes to implementing positive sustainability outcomes. If you missed it, you can read it here.

In this issue, we delve deeper into the practical application of the ADKAR model to drive sustainable change within our projects.

Quick Refresher on ADKAR

The ADKAR Model is a change management tool that guides both individuals and organisations through transformation. It's structured into five key stages:

Awareness: Understanding why change is necessary.

Desire: Fostering a willingness to support and engage in change.

Knowledge: Equipping teams with the information and skills needed for change.

Ability: Building competence and confidence to enact change.

Reinforcement: Ensuring the change is sustainable and ingrained in practices.

Evaluating Where We Stand

Identifying where our project teams are in the ADKAR journey is crucial. By asking targeted questions, we can gauge their readiness and help move them through the stages effectively. Whether through direct conversations or insights from past interactions, understanding each team's current stage enables tailored support that resonates with their specific needs.

Stages and Key Questions:

Awareness: Understanding the Need for Change

To establish awareness, it's crucial to assess the team's recognition of the need for sustainability changes.

Questions to Consider:

• How familiar are you with our project's sustainability requirements?
• Can you describe how your role contributes to our sustainability outcomes?
• Are you aware of how these efforts align with our broader organisational goals?

Desire: Commitment to Support the Change

This stage assesses the willingness of the team to engage with and support the sustainability initiatives.

Questions to Consider:

• What motivates you to support sustainability initiatives within our projects?
• Are there any concerns or barriers that make you hesitant to embrace these changes?
• What opportunities do you see for enhancing our sustainability efforts?

Knowledge: Providing Information and Skills

Ensuring the team has the necessary information and skills is vital for effective implementation.

Questions to Consider:

• What do you know about sustainable practices related to your job duties?
• Have you received training related to sustainability?
• Can you cite specific initiatives or projects you’ve been involved with or are aware of that pertain to sustainability?

Ability: Developing Competence and Confidence

Focusing on the team’s capability to implement the changes in their daily work, this stage is about practice and feedback.

Questions to Consider:

• How confident are you in your ability to apply required sustainability practices to your work?
• What challenges have you faced when trying to implement these changes?
• Can you share examples of how you have successfully incorporated sustainable practices into your role?

Reinforcement: Embedding the Change

The final stage involves ensuring the changes are sustained over time and become part of the team's culture.

Questions to Consider:

• How are sustainability efforts recognised or rewarded within the project?
• What incentives or benefits are associated with participating in our sustainability initiatives?
• Do you feel that sustainability efforts are valued and supported by leadership?

Empowering Change

Using the insights gained from these questions, we can develop a matrix to map each team's position within the ADKAR model. This allows us to tailor implementation strategies for individual teams or members as well as prioritise efforts based on their impact and readiness for change.

In my next edition, I'll provide a real-world case study of how to prioritise our approach using this matrix. If you're keen to explore further, drop a comment below or schedule a 15 minute chat with me here about how to set your organisation up for sustainable success.

If you found this useful or have your own thoughts on the subject please add them in the comments below and let's make sustainability a shared success story.

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