Ten years ago there were very few genuine change manager or culture transformation roles. Change was something you did to enterprise architecture, software and processes. We all now know that was only ever half the story at best.
It’s the 2016 Olympics and Rio de Janeiro has been “transformed”; yet not without its problems and the bad publicity it has attracted. And while I know some of you “just want to watch the shooting” and are complaining bitterly about the “colour” stories, the pre-occupation with the Mitch (Larkin) and Emily (Seebohm) relationship, the beautiful adoption story of Ellia Green, one of our superstar women’s Rugby Sevens players and anything covered by Neil Kearney or Bruce McAvaney, I found myself struck by the timely reminders unearthed by the Opening Ceremony.
The rumours abounded. We knew Giselle was coming. We knew it would likely be her last catwalk ever. We heard the rumours about her getting “mugged” on stage to reflect the honest and seamy underbelly of one of the most dangerous cities in the world. I admit I was shocked to learn that of the 50 most dangerous cities in the world, 21 of them are in Brazil so we’re not being uncharitable here. We knew the ceremony budget was one fifth that of London’s. Even the ceremony director told us it would be low tech, yet creative and beautiful.
So back to the ceremony. We heard the music. We saw the dancing and the parkour up and down the Brazilian skyscrapers. We enjoyed the visual magic of hundreds of people collaborating in breathtaking synchrony and how something so low tech as holding up and rotating a few shimmery foil dooverlackies could be powerful in its tight unity.
We heard the strong thematic message about climate change and the environment. We could argue this is riddled with hypocrisy given the tragic way in which Brazil and its eight neighbours have plundered one of the most remarkable ecological wonders of the world – the Amazon rainforest – but the country doesn’t hide from that if you read some of their press; they’re full of shame and remorse and seemingly committed to doing what they can to try to arrest this.
So the lessons for our change messages…
1. They need to be Giselle Bundchen cat walking the stadium. Have the right people doing what they do best and keep it simple and elegant. Don’t overcook it or confuse the message.
2. Beware the rumours of possible muggings or other critical incidents. Quash false rumours early or show quickly that people’s worst fears about the change are not going to happen.
3. Manage expectations and tell people what will happen and what won’t. Think the Ceremony Director’s message – low tech, yet creative and beautiful.
4. I know. Some of us just want to watch the shooting. But others are kinaesthetic and will want their emotions stirred. It’s for them we need the stories. The performer of Girl from Ipanema sitting at his piano alone on Saturday night was the grandson of the lovelorn artist who wrote the song back in 1964 about a girl he met on the beach.
5. Be honest about having made mistakes – even big ones – like ruining rainforests or rampant squandering of company revenue on failed ventures. Fess up. Don’t cover up but show what you’re going to do to try to ensure that negative history will not repeat itself.
6. Focus on the why (think the Olympic spirit, peace through sport), not just the what (international sporting meet with no prize money and possibly the Zika virus at no extra charge).