Why Values Matter: Putting People at the Heart
“Organizations don’t change, people do, one at a time.” Prosci
Achieving sustainable, long-term transformation requires attention to people alongside process and technology. People are what make organizations run – they’re the essential force – and each person responds uniquely when asked to adjust how they work or adopt something unfamiliar.
At Afiniti, we place ‘people at the heart’ of our entire operation, which is why this principle stands as one of our foundational values.
There’s another driver behind this commitment: it simply feels right. We’re all human. We experience emotions, aspirations and goals, uncertainties and hesitations. Acknowledging how people feel and offering appropriate space, backing and motivation helps foster genuine buy-in, which ultimately unlocks people’s full potential.
Whether we’re talking about what we deliver or how we operate – driving lasting transformation while building a thriving, sustainable enterprise that provides meaningful careers – Afiniti consistently prioritizes people above all else.
What does this really mean in practice?
Consider the services we deliver. Successful transformation requires individuals to modify their practices and routines, which may be firmly established after many years. Everything we design must center on people. They need to feel:
- Adequately informed about what’s shifting
- Backed as they navigate the transition
- Invested because the transformation reflects the right direction
- Motivated to participate actively and engage with the initiative
- Prepared to thrive in the ‘future state’
When developing any messaging or building any capability program, we recognize there’s an individual who will receive it and react to it. We must anticipate how they’re likely to respond and adjust to what’s being requested.
How do we accomplish that? By cultivating deep knowledge of the organization, its environment and its background. We achieve this by forming genuine connections with those we collaborate with – viewing them as people first, not simply clients.
We employ a robust methodology for mapping the different roles, or personas, affected by the transformation so we grasp what concerns they may harbor, what possibilities exist and how they might respond to the shift, fundamentally to better determine how we can position them and ourselves for optimal outcomes.
This captures one of the fundamental distinctions between effective project execution and effective change leadership. Projects hit deliverables. Change produces results. Sure, a project might launch a system release on schedule and within budget. But are people aware of it, and have they been enabled to leverage the new system? Hitting a deliverable doesn’t automatically ensure project value; but by confirming people are engaged and capable of performing, you help guarantee that value persists over time.
People at the heart in action
Consider a recent pharmaceutical client example. A new position was established to help transform one that had traditionally focused on tactical and transactional responsibilities. While the tactical work shifted to centralized hubs, these individuals were now empowered to concentrate on more value-added, higher-impact activities. The challenge was this represented an entirely different approach to thinking and operating; instead of completing a set of assignments each day, people needed to identify opportunities to leverage their knowledge and create value. This demanded a completely different exploratory orientation: one that embraced uncertainty. There were many unknowns. So, we paid attention to what people were expressing and:
- Organized drop-in sessions and office hours for colleagues to visit and pose questions or voice concerns
- Developed messaging that normalized uncertainty in an effort to ease anxieties
- Made leadership accessible to show solidarity and backing
Additionally, we collaborated with subject matter experts to illustrate the new position through an animation, which depicted a representative first day in the role. This recognized the natural personal uncertainty about making the commitment to proceed, tackled some of the concerns, offered examples of what these new value-added activities might involve and provided numerous tips to help each affected individual advance with confidence.
This transformation could have been rolled out merely with updated job descriptions for those affected, but that wouldn’t ensure success. Using the approach outlined above, we helped our client generate enthusiasm for the shift being implemented with zero negative impact on productivity and buy-in.
“Delivering a milestone doesn’t necessarily guarantee project success; but by making sure people are engaged, you can help ensure that success endures over the long term.”
Putting our people at the heart
Within Afiniti itself, ‘people at the heart’ is equally embedded. It’s obvious that exceptional people deliver exceptional work, provided they feel exceptional. Making people feel exceptional means inspiring, supporting, developing and guiding them throughout their journey so they can become their best selves.
We hold ourselves accountable to do right by our people. This means showing care both professionally and personally. It means appreciating and honoring others’ expertise and input. It means recognizing everyone is unique and can contribute something valuable and distinctive to a team.
We understand the human dimension of transformation. When people recognize that someone else prioritizes their interests, they’re more inclined to engage and respond.
For us, people come first – every time.
Not sure how you can put your people at the heart of your change journey? Speak to our people today, and we’ll be happy to learn how we can help.
The next article in our ‘Core Values Series’ will explore how “Putting the Client First” helps deliver effective, sustainable change for our clients.
