Change is top-down, bottom-up and sideways-out

Change is hard. And meaningful change requires effort from all sides and on all fronts.

There’s no shortage of writing on organizational change. Some say it must be top-down. Others insist it only works when it’s bottom-up. Some argue it’s about strategy, others about storytelling and communication.

Having been part of many organizational transformations as an advisor, consultant, and collaborator, here’s what I’ve learned: It’s not about choosing one approach over another.

Effective change is top-down, bottom-up, and sideways-out. It requires:
(1) Clarity, so everyone knows the “why” behind the effort.
(2) Consistent communication, so alignment doesn’t fade.
(3) Collective ownership at all levels, because lasting change only happens when everyone plays a part.

Change is a shared journey. And from my perspective, the organizations that do it well are the ones where leaders do not impose change on everyone else, but explain it, model it and co-create the steps to make it happen.