CAD Managers are called on to change things. They are change agents. They need to get others to move from one thing to another. From one software release to another, from one method of production to another, or from one standard to another (there personal standard [1] to the company standard).
So how do you get people to change. I want to delve into several ways…
1. Power – you exert your power to make it happen. You have the power as CAD Manager to do this (hopefully) by using your position. You can force others to use your standard or your method or to move to some new piece of software. This method may show is way into things like intimidation or brute force or more subtly with coercion or hostage taking (keeping something from the user).
2. Protest – you complain about the issues to the point where people do something because you are right or because they want to shut you up. Cranky and critical may not make others your best friends but it does sometimes make people change things. This may show itself as being a tattle tale or a whistle blower (in the negative sense).
3. Pronouncement – kind of like Power, but this just makes statement, sends memos and makes documents that set out the target for the change. Pronouncements initiate a process change by defining the end, but sometimes not the process of getting there. They can be ineffective in establishing real long term change.
4. Persuasion – the process of convincing someone that change is needed, cannot be avoided and must happen to create a better environment. This is using conversation and connection to effect change. It is using argument (the positive kind) and reason to move someone along.
Of all of these, Power, Protest, Pronouncement or Persuasion, the last one has the best chance of effecting change that will stick. Change that will be embraced and make things better. Persuasion moves someone who does not care, cares little or actually desires something different to move to your position. Persuade someone to embrace a change and they will go with you rather than fight against you.
CAD Managers need to do more persuading.