Kotter’s 8 Steps to

Leading Change
Step Description
 Establish a sense Unfreeze the organization by creating a
of urgency compelling reason for why change is needed.
 Create the guiding Create a cross-functional, cross-level group of
coalition people with enough power to lead the change.
 Develop a vision Create a vision and strategic plan to guide the
and strategy change process.
 Communicate the Create and implement a communication strategy
change vision that consistently communicates the new vision
and strategic plan.
 Empower broad- Eliminate barriers to change, and use target
based action elements of change to transform the
organization. Encourage risk taking and
creative problem-solving.
Establish a Sense Create A Guiding
of Urgency Coalition

• Unfreeze the • Create a

organization cross-
by creating a functional,
compelling cross-level
reason for group of
why the people with
change is enough
needed power to lead
the change
Develop a Vision Communicate the
and a Strategy Change Vision

• Create a vision • Create and

and a strategic implement a
Plan to guide communication
the change strategy that
process consistently
communicates
the new vision
and strategic
plan
Empower Broad- Generate Short-
based Action Term Wins

• Eliminate • Plan for and

barriers to create short
change and use term “wins” or
target elements improvements.
to change to Reward and
transform the recognize
organization. people who
Encourage risk- contribute to
taking and the wins.
creative
problem-
solving.
Consolidate Gains and Anchor New
Produce More Change Approaches to Culture

• The guiding • Reinforce the

coalition uses changes by
credibility from highlighting
the short term connections
wins to create between new
more change. behaviors and
Additional people processes and
are brought from organizational
the change success. Develop
process as change methods to ensure
cascades through leadership and
the whole development
organization. successes.