NEO-RLS Training
Communicate So the
Whole Staff Hears You
Facilitator: Marti Peden
Summa Leadership Institute
1
Change Style Indicator
Preferences
 In dealing with change
 There is no right or wrong way
 Will place you on a continuum
Benefits
 Manage your response to change
 Understand sources of conflict
 Select the most appropriate response
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2
Take Inventory
Change Style Preference
CONSERVERS
Accept the
structure
Prefer change
that is
incremental
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3
Change Style Preference
CONSERVERS
ORIGINATORS
Accept the
structure
Challenge the
structure
Prefer change
that is
incremental
Prefer change
that is
expansive
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Change Style Preference
CONSERVERS PRAGMATISTS ORIGINATORS
Accept the
structure
Explore the
structure
Challenge the
structure
Prefer change
that is
incremental
Prefer change
that is
functional
Prefer change
that is
expansive
Evolutionary
Situational
Revolutionary
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Make Prediction
CSI
Scoring
Instructions
CSI Prediction
 Step 1: Transfer points (number)
from the original column to the
Conserver and Originator columns
to the right.
 Step 2: Total the Conserver and
Originator columns.
 Step 3: Find your overall score by
calculating the absolute difference
in the totals of the Conserver and
Originator columns.
Example:
Total Conserver
44
Total Originator
22
Absolute Difference
22
In this example, the
score of 22 is placed
to the left of center, on
the Conserver side of
the graph.
Change Style Preferences
MOST PEOPLE ARE BLENDS
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Conservers When Facing Change
CONSERVERS
When Facing Change
 Generally appear deliberate, disciplined,
focused
 Prefer clearly defined structure
 Start with traditional ideas when problem
solving
 Don’t like surprises and uncertainty
 May appear cautious and inflexible
 Value tradition and best practices
Convergent Thinkers
Pragmatists When Facing Change
PRAGMATISTS
When Facing Change
 Generally appear practical, agreeable,
flexible
 Value change that produces readily visible
benefits
 More interested in functionality than
tradition or novelty
 Operate as mediators and catalyst for
understanding
 Are open to both sides of an argument
 Take more of a middle-of-the-road
approach
Appear More Team
Oriented
ORIGINATORS
Originators
When Facing Change
When Facing
Change
 May appear unorganized, undisciplined,
unconventional
 Challenge existing structure
 Dismiss traditional ideas when problem solving
 Enjoy risk and uncertainty
 May appear impractical and miss important
details
 Appear systemic in their thinking
 Dismiss established practices with little regard
Divergent Thinkers
Group Work
Divide into three groups based on your score.
DISCUSSION

What messages do you need to hear?

What is the best way to win you over?
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Communicating About Change
Conservers
Know the details
Pragmatists
Speak about outcomes
Originators
Talk about the future
Don’t start by presenting Talk about consequences Ask what they would like
the big picture
of continuing same way
to see happen
Pick one angle and build Ask for recommendations Ask for ideas
from there
for practical first steps
Present a minimum of
information, ask what
else is needed
Ask about problems and
barriers to
implementation
Ask what is effective in
the current system they
would not want changed
Ask about anticipated
obstacles. Listen.
Talk about timelines
Talk about the connection
between change and
future effectiveness
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Communicating About Change
Conservers
Know the details
Pragmatists
Speak about outcomes
Originators
Talk about the future
Don’t start by presenting Talk about consequences Ask what they would like
the big picture
of continuing same way
to see happen
Pick one angle and build Ask for recommendations Ask for ideas
from there
for practical first steps
Present a minimum of
information, ask what
else is needed
Ask about problems and
barriers to
implementation
Ask what is effective in
the current system they
would not want changed
Ask about anticipated
obstacles
Talk about timelines
Talk about the connection
between change and
future effectiveness
Summa Leadership Institute
13
Communicating About Change
Conservers
Know the details
Pragmatists
Speak about outcomes
Originators
Talk about the future
Don’t start by presenting Talk about consequences Ask what they would like
the big picture
of continuing same way
to see happen
Pick one angle and build Ask for recommendations Ask for ideas
from there
for practical first steps
Present a minimum of
information, ask what
else is needed
Ask about problems and
barriers to
implementation
Ask what is effective in
the current system they
would not want changed
Ask about anticipated
obstacles
Talk about timelines
Talk about the connection
between change and
future effectiveness
Summa Leadership Institute
14
Communicating About Change
Conservers
Know the details
Pragmatists
Speak about outcomes
Originators
Talk about the future
Don’t start by presenting Talk about consequences Ask what they would like
the big picture
of continuing same way
to see happen
Pick one angle and build Ask for recommendations Ask for ideas
from there
for practical first steps
Present a minimum of
information, ask what
else is needed
Ask about problems and
barriers to
implementation
Ask what is effective in
the current system they
would not want changed
Ask about anticipated
obstacles
Talk about timelines
Talk about the connection
between change and
future effectiveness
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15
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