What is the Difference Between Change Management and Change Leadership?

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The main difference between change management and change leadership lies in their focus and approach to dealing with change. Here are the key distinctions between the two:

Change Management:

  • Focuses on the processes, tools, and techniques used to help people progress through change.
  • Has a beginning and an end, as it is usually focused on specific projects.
  • Involves overcoming resistance and ensuring that everyone is on board with the changes.
  • Tends to be more reactive in nature, responding to changes when they occur.

Change Leadership:

  • Focuses on the style, attributes, values, and behaviors of the person creating the momentum for change.
  • Goes beyond intermittent projects and is more about creating a proactive approach to change.
  • Inspires people through purpose, vision, mission, and values.
  • Empowers lots of people and fosters big visions.

In summary, change management is more about managing the technical aspects of change, while change leadership is about inspiring and motivating people to embrace change. Change management is often associated with smaller changes and is more reactive, whereas change leadership is proactive and focuses on large-scale changes.

Comparative Table: Change Management vs Change Leadership

Here is a table comparing Change Management and Change Leadership:

Aspect Change Management Change Leadership
Focus Managing small, controllable changes Leading large-scale, sustainable transformation
Objective Minimizing mistakes and ensuring things are under control Inspiring stakeholders to embrace change and mobilizing resources
Process Reactive, focused on overcoming challenges Proactive, removing threats and resistance
Timeframe Has a beginning and an end Goes beyond intermittent projects
Approach Managing change as a finite project Seeing change as an opportunity for growth and improvement
Role Assigned to oversee the process and ensure it runs in an orderly way Plants the seeds for change, initiates it, and uses it to achieve big objectives
Mindset Teaching skills Teaching mindsets and changing behaviors

In summary, Change Management is focused on managing small changes and ensuring they are under control, while Change Leadership is about leading large-scale transformation and inspiring stakeholders to embrace change. Change Management is reactive and focused on overcoming challenges, whereas Change Leadership is proactive and aims to remove threats and resistance. Change Management has a set timeframe, whereas Change Leadership goes beyond intermittent projects.