Large-scale BEHAVIOURAL CHANGE
At Sun Life Financial
Caveat: due to its confidential nature, we can only provide limited information about this client case.
Challenge
The challenge was to change, reinforce and embed the attitudes and behaviours of employees at all levels through the entire Canadian division of Sun Life Financial. The initiative related to specific aspects of the day-to-day operations.
Given the risks involved, the President regarded as absolutely critical the need to reinforce and sustain the required attitudes and behaviours.
Complication: two different organizational cultures, emerging from the merger between Sun Life Financial and Clarica Life Insurance Company. Sun Life hired ORCHANGO Consulting [which was then operating as "TRANSITUS Consulting"] to develop a change strategy and guide its execution.
Solution
Working in collaboration with Sun Life, we crafted a very pragmatic change strategy.
Instead of advocating for a rigid, one-size-fit-all approach, we devised different options to tackle Sun Life’s challenge. We presented a comparative analysis of these options, as well as the conditions under which each would be best suited. Through this approach, we were able to quickly bring all the business units onboard.
We then guided the various areas as they tailored the change strategy to their respective environments.
As part of the solution, we also designed a workshop to speed up and sustain the change. By eliciting strong emotional connections, the workshop allowed the participants to establish personal meaning for the required attitudes and behaviours – thus adopting them willingly and on a permanent basis.
Outcome / Impact
To the satisfaction of senior management, the program delivered on its objectives. Employees and managers at all levels and throughout Canada adopted the required attitudes and behaviours.
Project summary
- Change strategy
- Change planning
- Change execution
- Cultural change
- Workshop design and delivery
- Train the trainers
Change timeline
- Phase 1 (Preparing for the change journey): 1.5 months.
- Phase 2 (Putting to sea, away from the abyss): 3 months.
- Phase 3 (Navigating the treacherous sea of change) and Phase 4 (Passing the lighthouse and reaching the safe harbour): about 12 months for both phases. Note: as Sun Life became more comfortable with the change campaign, our involvement decreased over time. After 6 months, Sun Life was able to complete the journey on its own.
About Sun Life
Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of protection and wealth accumulation products and services to individuals and corporate customers.
Chartered in 1865, Sun Life Financial and its partners today have operations in key markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China and Bermuda. As of December 31, 2009, the Sun Life Financial group of companies had total assets under management of $433 billion.
Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.
