The Power of the 3Ps: Your Engine for Change
Change rarely follows a straight line or occurs exactly how we anticipate it should. It tests our clarity, our connections, and our ability to keep moving when things get hard. Over the years, I’ve found that successful transformation, the kind that sticks, comes down to three simple but powerful elements: a clear plan, the right people, and the persistence to see it through. I call this the Power of the 3 Ps. When we lean into these elements, we’re creating conditions for momentum, alignment, and lasting impact.
Power of the Plan:
Clarity creates confidence. The old adage “those who fail to plan, plan to fail” rings truer than ever when navigating transformation. People move faster when they understand where they’re going and why (this applies to all things, not just change by the way). A good plan doesn’t mean having every answer or being prepared for every potential situation, but it does mean knowing your direction, milestones, and priorities. It means having clarity around not only how you will share information but what channels work best for your teams and your organization. It means proactively identifying or creating channels that allow you to receive feedback. And it means slowing down to identify what about the change might be challenging for those being asked to change and creating a plan to support them in a meaningful way. Navigating change without a plan is reckless, it’s the equivalent of taking a cross country road trip with no plan or gps to get you to your destination, and blindly hoping you’ll be able to navigate the road ahead. There’s no need to overengineer the plan, even a simple visible roadmap turns confusion into coordinated action. If you’re clear on who’s impacted, what’s changing, and why the change is important, you’ll be miles ahead those who failed to plan.
Power of People:
Change is driven through people, not to people. The right advocates, communicators, and connectors can multiple the impact of any transformation initiative. Who you rely on to share the message and who you trust to provide honest feedback matters – and can mean the difference between malicious compliance and true adoption. Think of these people as your travel crew during the road trip; they’re in the car with you, helping you navigate, spotting roadblocks, keeping you company, and making sure you actually enjoy the ride (because even with the best plan the journey can feel long and bumpy, if you’re doing it solo). Ensuring those experiencing the change are empowered and part of the story and not just the audience, will amplify your success. Take the time to invest in relationships early, build trust and create your plan with your team at the forefront and you’ll be fueled for sustainable change. Without the people, you may reach your destination, but it will be a lot lonelier and probably take longer.
Power of Persistence:
Every transformation experiences resistance, fatigue, overwhelm or doubt and how we react defines if we have success or remain broken. It’s those that keep pushing, keep sharing, and continue to ask questions that get to bask in the glow of success. Persistence is your road trip fuel, it’s what keeps you moving when you hit construction zones, detours, or a flat tire. You don’t give up and turn around when these unexpected events happen, you pause, evaluate and adjust your route and plan. When we experience resistance, it’s important for project teams and leaders to reconnect to the anticipated benefits and why the transformation is mission critical. The key is to stay committed to the journey, persistence is less about pushing harder and more about trusting that the detours don’t define the destination. Keep the purpose and the people at the core of decisions, and you’ll arrive well rested and ready to take on the next adventure.
When change feels complex, it’s easy to overcomplicate our approach. Real transformation doesn’t need multiple frameworks or buzzwords, it needs focus, people, and grit. By leaning into the Power of the 3Ps we create clarity, foster connection, and build the resilience to not just survive change, but to truly lead it.