Though Mahatma Gandhi said “Be the change you want to see in the world”, but he never told us how difficult it is to bring about that change at an individual level. And recently, as I sat through a 150 minute-long Bollywood movie Padman, I realized how this is a brilliant example of a change management, how it can go awry and awkward, and also how change managers go through a horrible time implementing a change.
The protagonist, Lakshmi Chauhan essayed by Akshay Kumar is very sensitive to women’s needs and questions the age-old practice of quarantining women during periods. And, when he notices his newly married wife Gayathri use a soiled piece of cloth instead of a clean and hygienic sanitary pad, he tries to convince her to switch. Unfortunately, the steep price of sanitary pads thwarts his efforts to get Gayathri to switch. Soon, Lakshmi goes on to create a cheaper version of sanitary pad and becomes a self-appointed messiah for educating women to change. In a society where men talking about women’s periods is considered taboo, Lakshmi is meted with a strong opposition by the larger society, which eventually costs him his marriage.
Watch the movie trailer:
As a PROSCI certified, change management professional, this movie reminded of the famous 5-step ADKAR model we prescribe to clients for successfully implementing and managing change.
Why and where did Lakshmi fail in his effort?
After being out casted by his mother and siblings, scorned by his in-laws and villagers, Lakshmi feels like a loser. His good intentions were misunderstood and he became a self-made villain sabotaging his relationships and ruining his marriage. Nevertheless, he doesn’t give up on his ambition to bring about change in the society.
A gentle breeze enters Lakshmi’s life through a sponsor, Pari essayed by Sonam Kapoor. From infusing confidence in him to motivating him to participate in a competition to get much needed capital and visibility and scale up his ambition, Pari turns into a sponsor and a change agent. She kills the taboo by getting women to educate their clan and empower them to be change ambassadors and entrepreneurs bringing success to Lakshmi’s ambition. Finally, her efforts get much needed recognition and visibility to Lakshmi and helps him clear his sullied image in his village and rebuild his relationship with his estranged wife and family.
Change management is not an easy profession and you can be a Superman if you carefully review Padman's mistakes and remember the key lessons including the importance of considering cultural aspects while implementing a change program and how to go about diffusing resistance. If you are a change manager, don’t miss watching this educational cinema and use it as a case study to sell change management to clients and prospects.
The protagonist, Lakshmi Chauhan essayed by Akshay Kumar is very sensitive to women’s needs and questions the age-old practice of quarantining women during periods. And, when he notices his newly married wife Gayathri use a soiled piece of cloth instead of a clean and hygienic sanitary pad, he tries to convince her to switch. Unfortunately, the steep price of sanitary pads thwarts his efforts to get Gayathri to switch. Soon, Lakshmi goes on to create a cheaper version of sanitary pad and becomes a self-appointed messiah for educating women to change. In a society where men talking about women’s periods is considered taboo, Lakshmi is meted with a strong opposition by the larger society, which eventually costs him his marriage.
Watch the movie trailer:
As a PROSCI certified, change management professional, this movie reminded of the famous 5-step ADKAR model we prescribe to clients for successfully implementing and managing change.
Why and where did Lakshmi fail in his effort?
- Firstly, he fails to understand the need to create Awareness highlighting the need for a change
- Secondly, though he strongly advocates the use of pads, he doesn’t go about seeding the Desire to change in women and explain “what’s in it for them”.
- Thirdly, he didn’t go about systematically sharing Knowledge on why they needed to switch. Also, he failed to use women change agents in a rural society where a male talking about menstruation hygiene and sanitary pads is considered taboo.
- Fourthly, he never analyzed why women resisted and villagers abhored his efforts. Moreover, he didn't measure their Ability to change and come up plans to diffuse resistance and recognize with Rewards/incentives to switch.
- Lastly, he was a self-appointed change manager and didn’t have a sponsor or village leaders to support him.
After being out casted by his mother and siblings, scorned by his in-laws and villagers, Lakshmi feels like a loser. His good intentions were misunderstood and he became a self-made villain sabotaging his relationships and ruining his marriage. Nevertheless, he doesn’t give up on his ambition to bring about change in the society.
A gentle breeze enters Lakshmi’s life through a sponsor, Pari essayed by Sonam Kapoor. From infusing confidence in him to motivating him to participate in a competition to get much needed capital and visibility and scale up his ambition, Pari turns into a sponsor and a change agent. She kills the taboo by getting women to educate their clan and empower them to be change ambassadors and entrepreneurs bringing success to Lakshmi’s ambition. Finally, her efforts get much needed recognition and visibility to Lakshmi and helps him clear his sullied image in his village and rebuild his relationship with his estranged wife and family.
Change management is not an easy profession and you can be a Superman if you carefully review Padman's mistakes and remember the key lessons including the importance of considering cultural aspects while implementing a change program and how to go about diffusing resistance. If you are a change manager, don’t miss watching this educational cinema and use it as a case study to sell change management to clients and prospects.
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