Building Support for Change¶
Navigating organizational politics to get your AI initiative approved and supported.
Step 1: Map the Landscape¶
Understand who has influence and what they care about.
Read: Coalition Builder Overview
Key questions to answer:¶
- Who makes the final decision?
- Who influences the decision-maker?
- Who could block this if they wanted to?
- Who benefits if this succeeds?
- Who loses if this succeeds?
Stakeholder mapping¶
Template: Stakeholder Register
Document for each stakeholder: - Their role and influence level - What they care about - Their likely position (supporter, opponent, neutral) - How to engage them
Step 2: Find and Cultivate Allies¶
Build a coalition of supporters before you need them.
Read: Finding Allies
Where to find allies:¶
- People frustrated by current problems
- Champions of innovation
- Those who've tried similar things before
- People who benefit from your success
Building relationships:¶
- Share credit generously
- Help them with their priorities
- Keep them informed early
- Make their support easy
Step 3: Understand and Address Resistance¶
Resistance isn't always opposition—often it's unaddressed concerns.
Read: Mapping Resistance
Common sources of resistance:¶
| Source | Root Cause | Response |
|---|---|---|
| Job security fears | Threat to role | Show how roles evolve |
| Budget concerns | Resource competition | Demonstrate ROI |
| Risk aversion | Fear of failure | Propose pilots, safeguards |
| NIH syndrome | Pride in current approach | Involve in design |
| Workload concerns | Change fatigue | Simplify, phase in |
Influence strategies¶
Read: Influence Strategies
Step 4: Execute Your Strategy¶
Put your coalition to work at the right moments.
Timing matters:¶
- Before formal proposals, gather informal support
- At decision points, have allies speak up
- After setbacks, maintain momentum through relationships
- At success, share credit widely
Engagement planning¶
Template: Engagement Plan
Document your approach for each stakeholder group.
Political survival¶
Even with good planning, politics can turn against you.
Read: Political Survival Guide
Related Journeys¶
- Assess a New AI Opportunity - build the case before seeking support
- Worried About a Project - if you need allies to raise concerns