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Three Ways to Sustain Change with NIATx

 By Mat Roosa, LCSW-R, NIATx Coach

The NIATx model is designed to help teams
identify and implement a process improvement. While adopting a change is a
significant accomplishment, the true test lies in maintaining that change and
its positive outcomes over the long term: sustaining the change.

Sustainability refers to the
ability to stick with the new way of doing things and continue reaping the
benefits that prompted the change initially. It involves integrating the new
methods into the organizational culture, ensuring stability amidst future
changes, and fostering adaptability to unforeseen circumstances.

Despite its importance,
sustaining change is no easy feat. Many change efforts fail to be sustained
beyond the initial six months. To counter this trend, proactive planning and
diligent effort are essential. Sustainability planning should commence early in
the change project, aligning with the principles of continuous improvement.

Here's a trio of strategies that change teams can use to
guarantee lasting improvements:

Icon of a person holding a flag, representing leadership

1. Appoint a Sustain Leader familiar with the change and its rationale.

It is difficult to think about the future when you are in
the midst of trying something new. One of the best ways to develop a change
project with sustainment in mind is to assign a member of the change team to
the role of sustain leader. This individual will support the key efforts to
sustain the change, including developing policies and procedures and maintaining
ongoing measurement, both discussed below. When the rest of the team turns their
attention to new priorities, the sustain leader will keep the change effort on
course.

 


Icon of a notebook, representing documentation


2.   
Document the change in policy and
procedure manuals, ensuring simplicity and clarity.

A clear
indication that a successful change is at risk of not being sustained is to
hear the Change Leader saying, “Don’t forget to continue to…”. Such reminders
are never needed for activities that are well-established as standard operating
procedures. Adjustments to documentation processes, including adding required
elements and checklists, make the new practice a required element that cannot
be skipped. Maintaining an up-to-date policies and procedures manual to actively
guide practice will ensure that the new practice becomes the norm.

 

Icon of a data chart, representing data collection


3.   
Establish data collection methods to
monitor progress continuously.

One of the
best ways to sustain a change is to keep measuring it. We tend to pay attention
to the things that we measure. When change projects achieve the desired goal,
there is a tendency to stop measuring and move on to new priorities. When
measurement is continued weekly, or at least monthly, the team can take
preventive action when the numbers start to slip.

This data monitoring can trigger
the reactivation of the change team. Ongoing measurement also points to the
need for manageable measures that are easy to maintain and review. Complex data
measures that require a high level of energy to maintain are less likely to be
sustained.

By embracing sustainability from the outset, organizations
can pave the way for enduring positive change and continuous improvement in
their operations.

 

Ready to launch a NIATx Change Project? Join
our next NIATx Virtual Change Leader Academy in May 2024
!   

Published:
03/04/2024
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The opinions expressed herein are the views of the authors and do not reflect the official position of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), SAMHSA, CSAT or the ATTC Network. No official support or endorsement of DHHS, SAMHSA, or CSAT for the opinions of authors presented in this e-publication is intended or should be inferred.

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