Common Challenge: Misjudging the Level of Effort Required for Adoption
Quick Summary
Too often, organizations underestimate how much change management is needed to gain true adoption. This article explains how to right-size your approach using the LaMarsh Managed Change™ Model.
The Challenge
Some changes are small and straightforward. Others disrupt habits, mindsets, and workflows. But change practitioners are frequently asked to “just do the basics”…a few communications, a one-hour training, a kickoff meeting. The assumption? That will be enough.
Spoiler alert: It usually isn’t.
Why It Matters
Underestimating the effort leads to low adoption, high resistance, and rework. And when change doesn’t stick, the business loses time, credibility, and momentum.
The LaMarsh Perspective
The Managed Change™ Model helps organizations scale their efforts by assessing the real risk to the people impacted. The higher the risk, the more structure, support, and time needed to help people adopt, and sustain, the change.
Right-Sizing Your Effort
- Assess the People-Side Risk
Identify what stakeholders are losing, how their roles or identities may shift, and what effort is required to adjust. - Map the Impact by Group
Change doesn’t hit everyone equally. Some may need awareness, others need coaching and deep training. - Map the Intervention to the Risk
The greater the risk, the more tailored the communication, training, and sponsorship support required. - Engage Sponsors and Leaders
Their modeling and reinforcement should match the size of the ask you’re making of employees. - Reinforce. Reinforce. Reinforce.
One-time efforts don’t work. Plan for post-implementation support.
Pro Tip
You don’t always need more change management. You need the right amount for the context.
Wrap-Up & CTA
Effective change management is not one-size-fits-all. With the LaMarsh Managed Change™ Model, you can scale your efforts based on actual risk, not assumptions.
👉 Want to assess how much change management you need? Join our next Managed Change Workshop or Contact us for a risk-based diagnostic.
