Change management always initiated by higher leaders in organization hierarchy, whose purpose of change is sometimes jeopardize function leaders interests. Work as change management consultant, we have to deal with both high level leader and function leader. Some tacit can keep us free from trouble and makes both satisfied.
Remember and keep in mind who pay bill is most important.
When reform and change process goes deep, divergence emerging between function leader and high level office. If cooperate communication system break down during change process, function leaders will give consultant greatest pressure to maintain their benefit and resist change process. On the other hand, high level office urge to see outcome of project. All the pressure puts consultant at most difficult and dangerous situation. To get out of trouble, consultant first should understand who trust the assignment and its purpose, second make proposal appeal to all party involved, third listen to high leader and figure out their solution.
Consider proposal implementation carefully and makes all party involved. When implementation, consultant works as change facilitator, makes function leader involved: to lay out change plan, to find successor or to give lecture to subordinate and this activity can alleviate resistance and makes change process more smoothly. Draw function leader into change process and make them truly understand reason and purpose of change and unlikely they were against what they design and believe. More importantly, when function leader participate in change process, the divergence between them and high level office begin to shrink.
Report to high level office directly. Some function leader works as doorkeeper and watch out and check change project outcomes. When proposal goes opposite with their interest, they will hindrance process and make difficulty. To get project on track, consultant should find chance and channel to communication and report to high level office directly. If high level office approve proposal, the only thing function leader can do is get project on track and be careful about their behavior.