Create Momentum
Even with strong motivation and the right environment, change efforts can still struggle. The reason? Lack of momentum.
Many organisations start change initiatives with a burst of enthusiasm, only to lose steam when progress feels slow or overwhelming. Without clear early wins, people disengage, priorities change, and transformation efforts fizzle out.
Why Momentum Matters
Change isn’t a one-time event—it’s a process. And like any process, it needs forward motion to stay alive. If progress isn’t visible and rewarding, even the best-designed initiatives will struggle to take hold.
Typical challenges include:
- Big, complex plans that feel unachievable – If people can’t see quick progress, they lose confidence.
- Endless planning cycles – When teams are stuck discussing rather than doing, energy drains away.
- Slow feedback loops – If results take months to appear, enthusiasm fades before impact is felt.
- Lack of belief – The track record on not delivering through fully in the past may be undermining faith that it can be done or that the executive commitment is there.
Creating visible momentum early helps to break this pattern and builds belief that the end goal is achievable, making change feel real, fast.
How to Build Momentum for Change
Executing effectively means structuring change so that it generates early progress, continuous reinforcement, and a sense of achievement. Key strategies include:
✅ Start with small wins – Identify quick, visible successes that prove change is working and build belief.
✅ Break it down – Large-scale transformations can be divided into smaller, manageable steps that feel more achievable.
✅ Minimise delay – Move from decision to action quickly; long gaps between idea and execution kill momentum.
✅ Show progress – Regularly communicate successes so people see their efforts making an impact.
Real-World Examples
A few practical examples of how this can and does work in practice:
- Tech companies releasing minimum viable products (MVPs) to get fast feedback rather than waiting years for a perfect launch.
- The UK’s “Couch to 5K” running programme, which starts with small, manageable workouts to build confidence and consistency.
- Lean manufacturing principles, where small, continuous improvements create compounding efficiency gains over time.
These approaches succeed because they keep things moving, reinforce progress, and sustain engagement. People feel a sense of progress which becomes compelling and much more likely that they will continue.
Execution in Action
If you’re implementing digital technology such as a new ERP solution, a traditional approach might typically involve months of planning, a big launch, and an expectation that everyone will instantly adopt it. The high-impact changemaker approach would:
- Pilot it in one area first to gain quick wins and refine the approach, ideally within just a few months or even weeks.
- Celebrate early adopters and share their success stories.
- Continuously improve based on real-time feedback, rather than waiting for a perfect system.
A Quick Note on Governance
Without effective controls projects can easily spiral out of control and waste resources which will undermine both morale and support. On the other hand too much governance and control creates a handbrake on progress and stifles innovation. It’s important to constantly assess the effectiveness and efficiency of controls to hit the sweet spot.
Momentum Creates Commitment
People are much more likely to commit to putting more effort into something when they see and feel progress. If wins come quickly and consistently, confidence builds, energy stays high, and the transformation gains a life of its own.
Without momentum, even well-planned change stalls. With it, success becomes inevitable.
