Libby Gill Shares How to Get From Influence to Impact: Leading Change In Your Organization

LIbby Gill's three-step model provides a systematic framework for driving change, emphasizing the importance of clarity, simplicity, and execution.

Libby is the author of five books, including the award-winning You Unstuck, Capture the Mindshare and the Market Share Will Follow, and Traveling Hopefully. Her latest book is The Hope-Driven Leader: Harness the Power of Positivity at Work. A former columnist for the Dallas Morning News, Libby has published book chapters and peer-reviewed articles for numerous journals and trade publications. Business leaders including Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh, Stephen M.R. Covey, Dr. Marshall Goldsmith, and Dr. Ken Blanchard have endorsed her work. Currently, she is co-authoring a book about Rice University’s Doerr Institute for New Leaders with former Brigadier General Thomas Kolditz, Ph.D., executive director of the Institute. Libby lives with her husband in Los Angeles and has four young adult children/stepchildren.

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"It's very sad to know that in the US alone, almost 3 million women have left the workforce, setting back the advancements that we have made over the last at least six years if not more and onto into the future that we've made. It's wiped out all of those leadership advancements we have as few women in the workplace now as we did 30 years ago. So we need to do some work to catch up to get back to where we were, which is not where we want to be."

Libby Gill's three-step model offers a structured approach to initiating and managing change effectively. Her model includes:

Clarify the Vision: This initial step involves clearly defining the desired outcome or goal of the change initiative. It requires articulating a compelling vision that serves as a guiding beacon for the team or organization. The vision should be concise, inspiring, and easy to understand, serving as a rallying point for everyone involved. It's essential to communicate this vision effectively to ensure alignment and commitment from stakeholders.
Simplify the Pathway: Once the vision is established, the focus shifts to identifying and streamlining the pathway to achieving it. This step involves assessing the current state, identifying obstacles or inefficiencies, and determining the most direct route to the desired future state. It often requires making tough decisions about what to prioritize and what to let go of. By simplifying the pathway, leaders can remove unnecessary complexity and facilitate smoother progress towards the vision.
Execute the Plan: With a clear vision and simplified pathway in place, the next step is to execute the plan effectively. This involves breaking down the overall goal into actionable steps or initiatives and assigning responsibilities accordingly. Setting specific objectives, timelines, and metrics for success is crucial during this phase. Regular monitoring and adjustment may be necessary to ensure progress remains on track. Celebrating milestones along the way helps maintain momentum and morale among team members.

Overall, this three-step model provides a systematic framework for driving change, emphasizing the importance of clarity, simplicity, and execution. By following these steps, leaders can increase their chances of successfully navigating through periods of transition and achieving meaningful outcomes.