COMMUNICATION: What Is A Change Story & What Are Those Things That Make Up A Change Story?

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A change story is a type of story that follows a simple format to create a sense of purpose and direction around an organizational change.

If people are to engage in change processes, they need to feel seen and heard – especially on the emotional level. Accordingly, a change story combines straightforward facts with emotions in words and pictures. It conveys why a transformation or a project is necessary and sensible, what the associated goals are and how they can be achieved – in a plausible way. The change story conveys new visions, strategies, goals and values in an understandable package.

Change story is more than just a list of new goals. It really does tell a story – THE story of the change process or a larger project. This means addressing and sharing emotions in addition to communicating the sober facts and figures relating to the change. And it is a story that lives and evolves with the ongoing process of change.

A change story should deal with all the elements of change viz-viz:

Sense and purpose: Why do we want to change at this time? What is our motivation for change and where does this need come from?
Name: What is the title of our change story?

Vision: How do we see our future?
Stakeholders: Who are those affected and how will they be affected? Who are the affected stakeholders by this change.

Targets: When can we say that our change has succeeded?
Result: What do we develop further? What will be new and what needs to change?
Subject areas: Where are we focusing on? Which fields of actions are we tackling?

Principles: What can employees rely on in the change process? What is our ‘safety net’? 
Dramaturgy: Where do we begin? How do we proceed?

Summarily, there are six parts of a change story viz:

• Why are we changing now?
• What's our aspiration?
• How will we get there?
• Why are you confident it will work this time?
• What are our expectations of one another?
• Why does it worth it?