I am currently leading a process implementation that is — to put it bluntly — bombing in spectacular fashion.
It isn’t for lack of effort. The goal was clear, the change was communicated, and I genuinely believed it was the best solution for the team. But the rollout has been met with resistance, confusion and frustration. Reflecting on everything, I can see where things went wrong and what I could have done better. If you’re about to implement a new process, learn from my mistakes so you can avoid the headaches I’m still untangling.
1. Don’t Assume People Understand the “Why”
I thought explaining the benefits once was enough. It was clear to me, so it should be clear to everyone else — right?
Not so much. People need to be assured of the “why” multiple times, in different ways, to get them through the difficulties of a transition.
How to Fix It: Communicate more than you ever thought you needed to. Tie the solution to real problems that the team experiences daily.
2. Clarity in Documentation is Nonnegotiable
I really thought I had this part down. The process was all in writing. It was even formatted and color-coded. But it was too vague in some parts and too dense in others. That lack of consistency made it useless, which means no one used it.
How to Fix It: Write instructions like you’re explaining them to a brand-new employee and go through them yourself to check if any actionable steps have been missed. Make it detailed and easy to follow with bullet points, examples and screenshots.
3. Resistance Is Coming
I grossly underestimated how much the team would resist. I knew there would be some pushback because change is difficult, even if it’s for the better. But the bigger resistance came from uncertainty and the extra work from training.
How to Fix It: If possible, don’t try to sell this on your own. Get help from an owner or another manager to showcase why this change will be worth the effort in the end. Once things are in motion, make sure to get the team involved by asking them for feedback throughout the process. When it feels like they’re part of the team and not just being told what to do, they’re much more likely to work with you and not against you.
4. Accountability Is Everything
I’ve made enough process changes to know that it never goes exactly as designed; there are always going to be tweaks and adjustments. But it takes a lot longer to implement when people revert to old habits because there’s no clear accountability.
How to Fix It: Put your expectations in writing for transparency so you can track compliance and follow up consistently.
Process implementation is never perfect. We’re all creatures of habit, and we all make mistakes. But it’s never too late to recover by reflecting and adjusting course. Keep pushing through and, over time, the mistakes made will serve as lessons for you and your team so the next change is a little smoother for everyone.