Change Champions Are MIA (And I Can't Really Blame Them)

READ TIME - 5 MINUTES

"Sorry, I know I said I'd help with stuff, but I've got three reports due by Friday, two team members off sick, and my inbox is exploding."

Kai stared at the message from Nina, one of his most enthusiastic change champions.

Through the open-plan office window, he could see the late afternoon autumn sun casting long shadows - a bit like his change network lately, showing up briefly and then disappearing into the chaos of their day jobs.

He glanced at his change champion meeting attendance sheet.

Last month: 15 people. This month: 4 people and a sad plate of untouched Tim Tams.

"Right," he said, grabbing his notebook. "Time to stop pretending BAU isn't eating them alive."

Let's get real - your change champions aren't ghosting you because they don't care.

They're drowning in their day jobs, and those "quick tasks" you’ve asked them to do are just one more thing on their endless to-do list.

Here's how to keep your network alive when BAU is going bonkers:

1. Make It Ridiculously Easy to Contribute

First up, we need to stop pretending people have hours to spare.

They don't. Work with that reality.

How to do it:

  • Break everything down into 15-minute or less tasks

  • Ditch the meetings - record bite-sized screen-share video updates instead so that they can watch whenever

  • Use voice messages instead of emails

  • Build a "grab and go" resource library for them, including ready-to-use message templates

  • Keep actions super specific and achievable

Pro tip: If it takes longer to explain the task than do it, you need to simplify it.

2. Create Seasonal Change Champion Roles

Let's be real - every business area has its crazy times and quieter times. Work with these natural rhythms instead of fighting them.

How to do it:

  • Map out each area's business cycles:

    • When are their peak periods?

    • When do reports/budgets/audits hit?

    • Which months are traditionally quieter?

  • Create flexible role descriptions:

    • "Peak Season" (minimal involvement, just key updates)

    • "Standard Season" (regular champion activities)

    • "Quiet Season" (capacity for bigger contributions)

  • Let people flex between roles as their BAU changes

  • Have a clear "handover" process for when existing change champions need to nominate someone else

  • Create yourself a coverage calendar that shows who's active when - you’ll be so happy you did

3. Make It Worth Their While…

Not with money (though wouldn't that be nice?), but with real value they can use in their day job.

How to do it:

  • Teach practical change skills they can use anywhere

  • Share exclusive insights about what's coming

  • Create opportunities to connect with leaders

  • Help them build their internal network

  • Give them early access to new tools or processes

  • Make their valuable contribution visible to their managers

  • Encourage them to add "Change Champion" to their professional development plans

Pro tip: The most effective change champions aren't doing it for you - they're doing it because it makes their job easier or their career stronger.

Look, at the end of the day, your change champions are doing you a favour, not the other way around.

The trick isn't to demand more of their time - it's to make the time they can give the program really count.

Bottom line? A change network that flexes with BAU pressures is better than a perfect-on-paper network that exists mainly in your head.

That's it for this week.

Next Tuesday we're diving into what happens when different business units want different solutions - don't miss it!

See you then,

Team EVER

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Kate Byrne