Navigating change that lasts with outcome mapping
Jan 25, 2024
Are you trying to achieve certain outcomes in your team but nothing seems to stick?
You know what you want but how can you get it to happen?
What if there was a tool that helped you to focus on changes you want to embed, provides a framework whether it be behavioural, or process or system based and makes changes sustainable in the long term whilst encouraging self-evaluation? That tool is called Outcome Mapping (OM).
Why should we use OM? It gives clarity on the change we want to make and the outcomes we are seeking as well as the impact it will have.
OM starts with the end in mind. The first step is to define the outcomes we desire and work backwards from what we want or where we want to be, to where we are now. In this process you identify the behaviours and skills that are required to be able to deliver the outcomes you want to see. Take time to understand what people need to make it possible, what the roadblocks are that they need to overcome, and how you can give them the tools to overcome these obstacles. OM also moves away from messaging that “this is something you need to do” to “how can we do this better as a collective”
The main point is to understand where your team members or your team are now. Identify your start point, this may be different for teams or individual team members, and then map out the steps that will get you to your desired outcomes.
In order for OM to work you need to adopt a set of guiding principles including:
- Be purposeful, know what outcomes you are wanting to achieve and why, how will they add value,
- Be inclusive, OM’s success is driven by participation, invite stakeholders to be involved and share outcome driven insights,
- Track progress, change doesn’t happen overnight it pays to know what is working and what isn’t,
- Be open in evaluating and collecting feedback.
OM is a tool to develop your team and your forward planning. Rather than take a short-term view, it encourages big picture thinking. If you ask what the ultimate outcome is you would like to achieve, it can take you beyond your current thinking.
Outcome mapping can empower your team in contributing to change that will create forward momentum in projects, systems and processes, and behavioural improvements. It’s a process that supports continuous improvement to achieve better practices.
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