Leaders want their organizations to adopt the RACI tool, and use it widely, because they believe that it will streamline decision-making and cut down on the kind of wasted time that we all experience when roles and accountability are unclear.
How can leaders ensure that the RACI tool is really driven into the company’s culture?
In a terrific article in the McKinsey Quarterly, “The Psychology of Change Management” writers Emily Lawson and Colin Price talk about the ingredients for successful change.
It isn’t enough to tell employees that they will have to do things differently.
First, they remind us that if people are going to adopt a new tool or behavior, they first need to know WHY the change is important. They remind us that people need to understand the “story” behind the change, and understand how it fits into “the unfolding drama of the company’s fortunes.”
Second, people will need to acquire the skills they need to use the new tool or do the new behavior. In this case, they will need some basic training on the RACI tool. This is the role of TRAINING.
Third, adult learning specialists know that adults don’t usually learn by merely listening to a training session, they need to USE the new information experimentally and make sure that it fits with their existing skills and knowledge. This is why a good RACI training session involves opportunities to practice using the tool – preferably on real-time work projects. This is also why a training experience that takes place over six months and results in RACI CERTIFICATION is so effective at driving the adoption of the tool.
Fourth, and most important, leaders can be role models for the change they want to see the organization adopt. “In any organization, people model their behavior on ‘significant others’: those they see in positions of influence.” (Lawson and Price)
It is possible to create organizational change without this kind of clear leadership role modeling, but it is much much harder. If you want to succeed, it’s best to play “follow the leader.”
RACI Solutions has been helping organizations across the globe utilize the power of RACI to transform the dynamic of cross-functional teams since 2007. Whether you are new to RACI or have used it for years, we can help.
Today’s business environment is complex – you may be contending with matrix structures, rapid growth, mergers, multiple locations, virtual employees, and/or digital transformation.
As a result, project teams can get stuck. Let us help you! If you need to learn RACI, we offer train-the-trainer materials and custom workshops. We can help you create RACI super-users. If you already use RACI or another decision matrix, we offer programs that help you become skilled at working across functions – an effective horizontal leader. We help project teams tune up their performance. We help organizations streamline their decision-making.
Our team is comprised of expert consultants, trainers, and facilitators, who can help your teams and their leaders achieve a seamless level of collaboration.
