What's Their Currency In The Change?

My wife and I started using a phrase a couple of years ago when working with other people on a change. When trying to better understand what might motivate someone to change, we ask the question, "What's their currency?" The reason is that everyone values something. For some it might be peace of mind, for others it might be money and recognition may be it for yet others.

If you are leading a change and are having difficulty getting people to get on board, ask yourself, "What's their currency?" Once you have identified it, seek ways to position the change so they can see the "pay out."