top of page

Change Implementation Approaches - ‘Tell’ versus ‘Sell’

Updated: Jun 25

Change disruption is the order of the day. Rapidly changing customer buying habits, access to new technology, and social media accelerate the way organisations need to adapt to change to remain competitive or even survive. If done properly, change management is the proven game changer in making this possible. Change management will support the organisation, its employees, and its leaders to move from the current state ‘a’ to the improved state ‘B’. It can enable and enhance implementation of the new ways of working, behaviour, and adoption of the change.

However, the change implementation approach depends on the type of change. If the change is about compliance, legislation, or safety, it will be a ‘Tell’. If it is about winning hearts and minds, it will be a ‘Sell’. Both approaches have advantages and disadvantages, and both approaches will encounter some level of resistance.

Change Management implementation approach, Change Approach, Peter F Gallagher, change management keynote speaker, change management gurus, change leadership gurus, change leadership, change management experts, change management gurus, change management expert, change management global thought leader, change management global thought leaders, change management leadership, change management leadership handbook, change management book, leadership of change,

'Tell’

Advantages: Speed is the nature of this type of change implementation. The organisation enforces the implementation decision, with consequences for those who do not obey.

Disadvantages: Changes like this are implemented quickly, with no time for staff consultation. As a result, people will feel that this change is ‘done unto them’ and it will take longer to achieve buy-in and acceptance.

“Nothing negatively impacts organisation performance quicker than employees who resists change and who believes that the way they work today is the way they will work tomorrow”

‘Sell’

Advantages: This type of change allows the organisation to communicate the change in advance, take feedback, and gain staff buy-in, winning hearts and minds.

Disadvantages: The process of communicating, involving lots of people, and receiving feedback, takes time. This type of change approach takes a lot longer than the ‘Tell’ approach and much more organisational effort.

“Without employee resistance, you will not achieve organisational change”


 

Peter consults, speaks, and writes on the Leadership of Change®.

For further information please visit our websites:


Peter F Gallagher, change management body of knowledge (CMBoK), Leadership of change, change management books, change management volumes, change management, change management models, change management gurus, change management experts, change management global thought leaders, change management influencers, change management books, change management Leadership, change management keynote speakers,
 

Peter F Gallagher is a Change Management Global Thought Leader, Guru, Expert, International Speaker, Author and Leadership Alignment Coach.

Ranked #1 Change Management Global Thought Leader: Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Change Management (2024-2023-2022-2021-2020) by Thinkers360.

Listed #1 by leadersHum Top 40 Change Management Gurus You Should Follow in 2022 (Mar 2022).

Listed #15 in the “Top 30” for Global Gurus Leadership (2024) by Global Gurus.

Ranked #1 Business Strategy Global Thought Leader: Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Business Strategy (2022) by Thinkers360.

Ranked #6 Leadership Global Thought Leader: Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Leadership (April 2024) by Thinkers360.


Business Book Ranking

Change Management Behaviour - Leadership of Change® Volume 6, listed among the 50 Books from Thinkers360 Thought Leaders to read in 2022.

Change Management Adoption - Leadership of Change® Volume 5, listed among year-to-date’s (Jul 2021) most popular books on business and technology from Thinkers360 member thought leaders.

Change Management Handbook - Leadership of Change® Volume 3, listed among the 50 Business and Technology Books from Thinkers360 Thought Leaders to read in 2021.

Change Management Pocket Guide - Leadership of Change® Volume 2, ranked within the top 50 Business and Technology Books (Jan 2020) from Thinkers360 Thought Leaders.


589 views

Comments


bottom of page