Activate Frontline Managers in Change Management
Develop frontline managers to influence organizational change ability.

Client Challenge
- Frontline managers are often informed of the change at the same time as the broader workforce and are rarely consulted before key decisions impacting their teams are made.
- Despite being in the prime position to influence employees to adopt change, managers’ knowledge and expertise of their teams and functions are left untapped. Managers are also not provided with the necessary support or training to be effective leaders of change.
Our Advice
Critical Insight
- Given their proximity and daily interactions with employees, frontline managers are best suited to support, influence, and lead employees through change. Equip frontline managers with the training and tools necessary to effectively navigate their dual role as both the recipients and leaders of change.
Impact and Result
- Create a standard plan to involve frontline managers at all stages of change, communicating key change messages, consulting on key decisions, and participating in training to be effective leaders of change.
- Evaluate frontline managers on key change abilities and curate a resource toolkit for frontline managers to address gaps and facilitate successful implementation and sustainment of change in the front lines.
- Monitor the effectiveness of the toolkit and establish a regular cadence to update the toolkit.
Research & Tools
Name | Actions |
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1. Assess current state of manager involvement and change abilities
Assess the organization’s current change management approach by identifying gaps in frontline manager involvement, developing a standard plan to involve frontline managers in change management, evaluating frontline managers’ change abilities and setting goals and metrics.
Name | Actions |
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Activate Frontline Managers in Change Management Storyboard | |
Activate Frontline Managers in Change Management Executive Briefing | |
Standard Focus Group Guide | |
Frontline Change Management Workbook | |
Case Studies: Activate Frontline Managers in Change Management |
2. Create a toolkit to develop managers’ change abilities
Create a toolkit to develop managers’ change abilities by reviewing McLean & Company resources for change abilities, selecting resources, reviewing logistics and capacity required, and creating an action plan to launch the toolkit.
Name | Actions |
---|---|
Frontline Manager Change FAQ Template | |
Change Reactions and Responses Tactics Catalog | |
Sustainment Owner Planning Template |
3. Deploy toolkit and iterate based on data
Develop a plan to communicate and share the toolkit with frontline managers, then deploy the toolkit and establish a regular cadence to measure the effectiveness of the toolkit and explore opportunities to facilitate addition learning opportunities.
Name | Actions |
---|---|
Participant Training Session Evaluation | |
Frontline Manager Change Self-Assessment Tool |

Need Help?
Speak With an Advisor
Get the help you need in this 3-phase advisory process. You'll receive 6 touchpoints with our researchers, all included in your membership:
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Guided Implementation #1 - Assess current state of manager involvement and change abilities
- Call # 1 Review the organization’s current change management approach and identify gaps in frontline manager involvement.
- Call # 2 Develop a standard plan to involve frontline managers in future change initiatives and set goals and metrics to track effectiveness of the toolkit.
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Guided Implementation #2 - Create a toolkit to develop managers’ change abilities
- Call # 1 Review McLean & Company resources for change abilities and discuss resources to include in the toolkit.
- Call # 2 Review logistics and create an action plan to launch the toolkit.
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Guided Implementation #3 - Deploy toolkit and iterate based on data
- Call # 1 Discuss a plan to communicate and share the toolkit with frontline managers.
- Call # 2 After implementation, review and discuss opportunities to improve the toolkit and explore opportunities for additional learning.
Author
- James Kim
- LynnAnn Brewer
- Justine Czencz
Contributors
- Lisa Blanchet, Consultant, Lisa Blanchet Coaching & Consulting
- Barry Cousins, Practice Lead, Info-Tech Research Group
- Dr. John Daly, Professor, Department of Communication Studies, University of Texas at Austin
- Marjorie Derven, Managing Partner, HUDSON Research & Consulting
- Rachael Fehl, Senior Manager, Continuous Improvement Program Management, Jackson Hewitt Tax Service
- Hilary Green, Director, Change Management, Scotiabank
- Jeniele Jemmott, Change Management Specialist, Region of Peel
- Jennifer Mcmillan, Talent and Learning Development Manager, Article
- Kip Soteres, Consultant, Soteres Consulting
- Jason Swisher, Senior Organizational Change Management Specialist, Retirement System of Texas
- Yvonne Thevenot, Senior Advisor, Osborne Interim Management
- Billie Wright, VP, People Operation, Nava