When BAU Keeps Trumping Change Activities
READ TIME - 5 MINUTES
"Can we push the workshop to next month?" asked Riya, barely looking up from her laptop. "We’ve got a major report due, and I just can’t spare the team right now."
Alan leaned back in his chair, trying not to let his frustration show.
It wasn’t the first time he’d heard this excuse, and it probably wouldn’t be the last.
Every time he tried to prioritise the change initiative, something more ‘urgent’ seemed to pop up.
He couldn’t blame them—everyone was juggling competing priorities.
But if the change kept getting bumped, it would never get the momentum it needed.
"Alright," he thought, flipping open his notebook. "Time to cut through the noise and make this change stick."
The "Make Change the Priority" Strategy
When competing priorities keep pushing change to the sidelines, it’s not just about asking stakeholders to do more.
It’s about helping them see that the change is a solution to their challenges, not another task on their plate.
This strategy focuses on shifting perceptions so that stakeholders view the change as valuable and essential.
How to do it:
Reframe the value: Connect the change to what matters most to your stakeholders. For example, "This initiative will reduce approval times, giving you more capacity to focus on delivering your key projects."
Focus on the why: Reinforce the bigger picture. Show how the change aligns with organisational goals and supports what they’re already working toward.
Simplify the ask: Break the change into smaller, manageable actions that can be easily integrated into their existing workflows.
Pro tip: People are more likely to prioritise change when they see it as solving their problems, not adding to them. Use their language and priorities to frame the benefits of the change—it will resonate more deeply.
Extra pro tip: Share success stories from other teams or departments who’ve already adopted the change. Hearing how others are benefiting can create a sense of urgency and FOMO (fear of missing out).
The "Protect the Change" Approach
When competing priorities threaten to derail change activities, it’s time to create a protective bubble around the initiative.
This approach is about carving out space for the change to thrive, even in the busiest environments, by helping stakeholders balance their priorities without feeling overwhelmed.
How to do it:
Timebox change activities: Suggest short, focused blocks of time for change-related work. For example, "Let’s dedicate 15 minutes of your weekly team meeting to this initiative."
Get leadership buy-in: Work with senior leaders to reinforce the importance of the change. Their visible support can help shield the initiative from being deprioritised.
Pause non-essential work: Collaborate with stakeholders to identify which activities can be temporarily paused to create bandwidth for the change.
Celebrate progress: Highlight small wins to show that the effort is paying off and to keep teams motivated.
Pro tip: Protecting the change isn’t just about shielding it from competing priorities—it’s about showing stakeholders that the initiative is worth the effort. Create a visible roadmap with milestones to demonstrate progress and keep the focus sharp.
Extra pro tip: Use visual tools like dashboards or progress trackers to make the change’s impact tangible. Seeing measurable progress can motivate stakeholders to stay committed.
"Success today requires the agility and drive to constantly rethink, reinvigorate, react, and reinvent."
– Bill Gates
When competing priorities threaten to derail your change initiative, the key is persistence and clarity.
By reframing the value of the change and protecting its momentum, you can help stakeholders see that it’s not just another task, it’s the path to a better way of working.
That’s it for this week.
Next Tuesday, we’re tackling how to make change culturally safe during Reconciliation Week—don’t miss it!
See you then,
Team EVER
PS: Someone pass this on to you?
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