Moving Forward Without a Clear Destination
Quick Summary
One of the most preventable barriers to change success is a vague or incomplete picture of the future state. Without a clear destination, stakeholders can’t align, sponsors can’t lead, and the change effort drifts. This article shows how to define a compelling future state using the LaMarsh Managed Change™ Model.
The Challenge
You can’t expect people to embrace a change if they don’t understand what they’re moving toward. Too often, organizations launch initiatives with buzzwords and high-level goals—but little detail on what “better” actually looks like. The result? Confusion, disengagement, and inconsistent adoption.
Why It Matters
A clearly defined future state creates clarity, energy, and alignment. It allows sponsors to advocate with confidence, teams to design aligned solutions, and employees to understand what’s expected. Without it, every step of the change process becomes harder.
The LaMarsh Perspective
In the Managed Change™ Model, we emphasize defining the desired state before moving into implementation. This definition must be clear, measurable, and meaningful from the perspective of both leadership and stakeholders impacted by the change.
How to Define the Future State for Targets
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- Describe the Future in Detail
Include behaviors, systems, processes, roles, and culture—not just metrics. - Make It Measurable
Define success criteria and how you’ll know the change is complete. - Tailor the Message for Stakeholders
Frame the future state in terms of what each group will see, do, and experience differently. - Align Leadership
Ensure all sponsors and senior leaders are using consistent language to describe the change. - Validate and Refine
Share drafts of the future state with impacted groups. Use feedback to clarify and improve it
- Describe the Future in Detail
Pro Tip
If your future state doesn’t pass the “can I picture it?” test—it’s not done yet.
Wrap-Up & CTA
Clarity about the future state isn’t a luxury—it’s a requirement. The LaMarsh Managed Change™ Model gives you tools to define, communicate, and reinforce a clear vision of what’s ahead.
👉 Ready to sharpen your vision? Join our next Managed Change Workshop or Connect with our Advisory Team.
