When you throw a pebble into a pond, you might notice concentric circles rippling out from the locus point, where the pebble hit the water. Each circle has a larger coverage area and the ripples become subtle as they move away from the locus.
The adoption of organizational change needs this ripple effect and yet be subtle with larger coverage. If done the right way, disruption from the change can be lessened and it can be acceptable to large segments, change has a ripple effect on others.
Similarly if the core has received success, confidence grows and has similar effects in execution of other tasks.
One small win can cascade its effects and bring larger wins since its leads to positive reinforcement among people and they influence others who come into contact with them, similarly the entire organization can be influenced in this manner which is like the ripple effect.
Thus the throwing of pebbles can symbolize a model for social or organization change.
Just like a small pebble creates those large circles of ripples subtly, the adoption of change should be in a manner that influences a larger segment and get accepted seamlessly. We could use this model to get quick wins like following traffic rules in one busy road. All traffic rules will be followed in that road. This would be a quick win which could be extended to the arterial roads feeding into this road. Well having tasted success in this as well, we have an opportunity to speak about it and extending the norm becomes easy.
Similarly acts like conserving resources like water, electricity and paper or doing an act of kindness could be good starting points.
When a big stone is dropped, water splashes around disturbing the entire stability and making the water muddy, likewise a change which is not implemented in a steady manner creates that disturbance discord. The energy is now focused in managing that disruption rather than on the implementation of the ‘Change’.
The Principle of Concentric Circles is an observation from the environment which inspires us to influence and drive change in Social Business Circles.
