Leonard Cheshire is a UK-based charity organization that supports people with disabilities. In the early 2010s, the organization faced significant financial and operational challenges that threatened its long-term viability.
In 2016, Neil Heslop was appointed as the new CEO of Leonard Cheshire. He inherited an organization with a large deficit, low employee morale, and a disconnected senior leadership team.
Heslop's first action was to establish a new leadership team that could steer the charity in the right direction. He appointed a new Director of Finance, a new Director of HR, and a new Director of Fundraising, among others.
Heslop also conducted a review of the organization's operations and identified areas where costs could be reduced without compromising the quality of services provided to people with disabilities. He centralized some of the organization's functions, such as finance and human resources, to reduce duplication and inefficiencies. The charity also adopted a new strategy, which focused on leveraging technology to improve service delivery and operational efficiency. The organization implemented new digital systems, including an electronic patient record system, and provided staff with new mobile devices to facilitate remote working.
One of the most significant turnarounds at Leonard Cheshire was in its fundraising efforts. The charity had relied heavily on government funding, which had declined significantly in recent years.
Heslop and his team developed a new fundraising strategy that focused on engaging individuals, corporates, and trusts. They also increased the organization's presence on social media and implemented new digital fundraising platforms. Thanks to these efforts, Leonard Cheshire managed to increase its income by 20% within two years of Heslop's appointment as CEO.
The organization was also able to reduce its deficit and increase its reserves, which strengthened its financial position.
The turnaround story at Leonard Cheshire is an excellent example of how strong leadership, strategic planning, and innovative thinking can help a struggling organization overcome significant challenges and achieve sustainable success.
Answer the below questions
1. What image/s of change management does Clare Pelham illustrate?
2. What insights does this story have to offer concerning the role of the change leader?
3. What lessons about managing organizational change can we take from this experience and apply to other organizations, in healthcare and in other sectors?
