Change, for many people can be a difficult thing. It can be both exciting and scary. Old habits die hard, and that is often why change programmes meet resistance, stall or fail. But perversely, in my experience many people want to change their lives or their business in some way, but find it difficult to get started or to sustain the change for long.

Personally I relish change. I find it stimulating, refreshing and energising. But despite the fact that change is inevitable (particularly in the countdown to 2012) there is still incredible resistance to change inside ourselves and in the people around us, such as our staff and our clients.

So against that backdrop what are the key elements of successful, sustainable change?

Overcoming your own inertia

Everyone suffers from some degree of inertia, a resistance to change, especially significant or disruptive change. As they say, “a journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step”. So, faced with significant change the most effective and sustainable approach is one step at a time. That way, it’s not hard to get started but it is also easier to sustain and build on. Drastic change in one fell swoop is unlikely to succeed. Start with the first step.

Overcoming the inertia of others

This is usually even more difficult to overcome than your own inertia. Very often people do not welcome change. They may be negative or even destructive but it’s important to get them on your side by asking for their help and input, providing appropriate training or finding ways to mitigate the impact on their lives. At the end of the day however, those who can’t change (capability) and those who won’t change (conduct) need to be managed out sensitively.

Play to strengths

Doing something you hate or aren’t particularly good at is possible for a while but difficult to sustain. Harness the strengths of each individual and play to them.

Celebrate successes

Each step along the way is a success, a victory, no matter how small. So don’t get discouraged about what you haven’t accomplished, reflect on how far you’ve come and celebrate what you have achieved.

Make it a habit

Change is only sustained when it is embedded and has become part of your daily personal routine or business process.

Don’t fear failure

You will fail from time to time but don’t be afraid to fail. If you aren’t failing occasionally you’re not learning. So fail, fail often and learn from it. You’ll be better equipped and informed for the next attempt.

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