Simply announcing (through an e-mail blast, newsletter, bulletin board, etc.) that an opportunity exists to join in a change project may have limited results. A more effective means of influencing people to participate is a personal invitation.
It’s easy for people to dismiss an indiscriminate announcement looking for volunteers. Even someone who is interested in participating may have doubts about whether they are the right person for the project or may come up with easy excuses for not signing up or taking part in the new behavior or activity. On the other hand, if someone is personally invited, you make them feel like they were chosen to take part, recognized for their special role in the organization. Plus, it’s more difficult to say no to a personal invitation.
Of course, it would be difficult to personally invite every single person in the organization to go through change. The personal invitation is better suited to get the initial people on board, so you can demonstrate to the masses that people are in fact participating. Recruit people up front who have passion for or interest in the change, those who are influential, or those in a visible role… or maybe even someone who might otherwise be your biggest resistor.
Who might you invite to participate?
Read more of the 99 Ways to Influence Change.