The Role of a Catalyst in Change Management

There are many examples of failed changes in the corporate world. In modern day management, an organization spends a great number of man hours in an effort to devise strategies that would lead to better and efficient utilization of resources. In spite of careful and well planned research in increasing the output, it is never guaranteed that the proposed change will be implemented successfully.

It is impossible for one man to initiate a change. Many times organizations resort to the creation of a task force that is comprised of people with good leadership qualities to act as catalysts. Sometimes such people also command an authority over a major section of organization.

The above points lead us to two questions, ‘What is a catalyst’? And what is the possibility of successful implementation of a change with the help of a catalyst? Generally, a catalyst means anything that generates circumstances in which a change can be successfully implemented.

Due to our human nature and upbringing, different people act differently when a change is implemented in an organization. With the possibility of resistance or apathy cropping up amongst stakeholder role of a catalyst in order to implement an efficient and successful change becomes imperative. Let us take a close look at some of his important roles and objectives:

* One of the important roles of a catalyst is to make things occur. Many people only watch a change but do not acknowledge or react to it; one of the important jobs of a catalyst is to help such employees in an organization. In an organization there are people from various backgrounds, for mature or experienced staff change is simply too much to handle, a catalyst helps such employees by listening to their grievances and helping them in aligning themselves with the upcoming environment.

* Another key responsibility of a catalyst is to answer to or explain the need and consequences of a change in the organization to its employees and other stakeholders. Their feedbacks, questions and worries should be properly listened and answered to their satisfaction. Doing this will help them in the transition to the change and would create their trust in the catalyst.

* Reason and logic are some of the most important and easiest things to understand. In an organization a catalyst can present logical explanation towards the change. The positive as well as negative aspects of a change should be explained to the employees by the catalyst. Here, it is important to be as truthful as possible regarding the different aspects of the change. By sharing his view, a catalyst can make it easy for others to connect with the problem and thus result in an efficient implementation of the change.

* When in a difficult or unexplainable situation a catalyst can work using the divide and conquer method to solve the problem .i.e., breaking the bigger change into a series of smaller and continuous changes that lead to the fulfillment of the overall change. Smaller changes are less expensive and easier to understand, this makes it easier for others to comprehend the change.

The role of a catalyst is an exciting as well as a rewarding one. Successful implementation of a change not only helps an organization, it also works in improving the life of the employees.