The Lazy Change Manager's Guide to January

READ TIME - 4 MINUTES

"This year, I'm going to be more organised", Ben thought, attempting his third poolside cocktail-in-one-hand, phone-notes-in-the-other juggle.

Like most New Year's resolutions, it felt both optimistic and slightly delusional.

His attempt at a January kickstart last year had involved three days of back-to-back workshops, seventeen coffee runs, and one major meltdown (his).

The change program eventually got moving... somewhere around March.

But now, watching his kids invent a game that seemed to involve minimal movement but maximum impact (something about using the pool noodle as a water cannon), Ben had an epiphany.

Maybe the secret wasn't working harder in January - it was working smarter.

Save this email for when you're back at your desk (for now, get back to your pool time!).

Here are three delightfully low-effort, high-impact ways to breathe life back into your change program when you're back:

1. The "Priority Reset"

Inspired by how TikTok's algorithm learns what people actually want, not what they say they want.

How to do it:

  • Wait until late January when everyone's properly back

  • Create a simple Google Form asking stakeholders ONE question: "What's the one thing that would make this change easier for you?"

  • Time it for when people have remembered all their pain points but haven't gotten too busy yet

  • Use these insights to reshape your Q1 approach

Pro tip: Make it mobile-friendly and dead easy to complete. Think "swipe right" simplicity, not "fill out this spreadsheet" complexity.

As TikTok's head of product once said: "The best insights come when people aren't overthinking it."

2. The "Summer Blockbuster Preview"

This idea is borrowed from how Marvel builds hype for their upcoming releases.

How to do it:

  • Create a punchy "Coming Soon in 2025" teaser

  • Focus on the exciting changes landing in Q1 & Q2

  • Keep it visual and high-energy (think movie trailer style)

  • Include "starring roles" for key stakeholders

  • Drop it when people are still in that New Year optimism phase

Pro tip: Include some "behind the scenes" snippets of prep work done over summer to show momentum didn't completely stop.

3. The "Morning Breeze Brief"

With this one we’re taking inspiration from how Australian surf lifesavers do their daily handover - casual, focused and out of the sun. Think: easing into things.

How to do it:

  • Schedule a 2 x weekly 15-minute ‘Morning Breeze Briefs’ at 9.30am (or whatever time works for you) for the first week back in late January and throughout February

  • Keep them casual - morning coffee in hand is encouraged

  • Focus on quick wins and easy momentum builders

  • End each session with one clear, achievable action

  • Wrap up before the day gets too hot

Pro tip: Morning sessions mean you catch people when they're fresh, and everyone can still duck out early to enjoy the summer afternoons.

Look, we all want to hit the ground running in late January. But let's be real - no one's winning a marathon straight off the beach towel.

The secret to a strong start isn't in pushing harder - it's in being smarter about where you direct your energy.

These low-effort, high-impact moves will get things moving while you're still finding sand in weird places.

Think of it as the change management equivalent of swimming with the current instead of against it. You'll get where you need to go, just with less thrashing about.

For now though? Put your phone down and enjoy your break. This email will be waiting in your inbox when you're ready.

Next Tuesday we’re diving into how we "reengage stakeholders after a failed change attempt". Don't miss it!

See you then,

Team EVER

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Kate Byrne