Level Up Now! Building a Change Center of Excellence (COE)

Ever wondered how to supercharge your organization's ability to adapt and innovate? Let me introduce you to the differentiator: the Change Center of Excellence (COE). A COE is simply this - a powerhouse team (think: your Avenger Squad) dedicated to making change not just manageable, but impactful.

What is a COE?

A Change Center of Excellence is like the Avengers of change management (minus the capes and superpowers. You can have those too if you'd like). It's a dynamic team focused on championing change within your organization. This crew develops and implements standardized processes and tools to make change management smooth sailing. From assessing change readiness to crafting killer communication plans, the COE is your go-to squad for all things change-related. They use a structured approach to manage change at the organizational level.

Why You Need It

So, why jump on the COE bandwagon? Well, picture this: having a COE is like having a reliable GPS system —it keeps you on track, helps you navigate obstacles, and gets you to your destination (aka your people related goals) with style. By bringing together experts, resources, and proven strategies under one roof, a COE ensures that change initiatives are not just successful, but stand the test of time.

5 Power Moves

Here are your concrete steps to establishing a Centre of Excellence:

1. Set Your Sights: Start by defining what you want to achieve with your COE. What are your organization's top change priorities? What do you hope to accomplish by centralizing change efforts? What is the mission, vision of the COE?

2. Gather Your Dream Team: Assemble a diverse crew of change experts —each member brings unique skills and perspectives to the table. What capabilities does your team need - what mix of skills and competencies are needed to propel change forward in your company?

3. Equip Your Arsenal: Develop your toolkit. Create standardized processes, approaches, playbooks, templates, and resources your team (and eventually) everyone can use. This is your secret stash of change magic.

4. Train, Train, Train: Empower your team and stakeholders with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in a changing environment. Offer workshops, webinars, and hands-on training sessions to learn the

5. Measure and Adapt: Keep an eye on the scoreboard. Set measurable goals and track your progress. Keep a comprehensive list of portfolios that are managed by the COE group, tied to relevant business and financial outcomes.
   

Key Takeaways

So - don't get left behind! A Change Center of Excellence is your organization's ticket to mastering change. It instills the right mindset, behaviors and approach to managing change at an organizational level.