ExecutiveChronicles | Effectual management of organizational changes | Change is difficult. You get comfortable with a certain routine and it can be very difficult switching things up. And since this is true for changes you want to make in your personal life, just think how much more challenging alterations are in the workplace. This is due to the fact your employees have different personalities, and while some may find it easier to adapt, others can struggle and even resent the changes. This can cause friction within the team and cause the processes to stagnate. Since it’s going to take a while for everyone to get accustomed to the changes, you don’t want additional troubles weighing you down.
Here are some of the ways in which you can ensure your organizational changes go as smoothly as possible so your business doesn’t have to suffer any drawbacks.
Prioritize people
Your business is made up of your employees. Without them, none of it would be possible, and it’s important to always keep that in mind. When there are major changes in management, many workers will be hit hard and struggle to keep up with everything that’s happening. Don’t expect everything to go perfectly the moment you announce you’re about to make some differences. Before you set the plan into motion, make sure that everyone is aware of what it will entail and how their roles will change within the company.
As a leader, you have the duty to make the change easier for the employees. Not only do you have to explain what’s going to change as clearly as possible so there’s no room for misunderstanding, but you also have to clarify why the switches are necessary and what the staff can expect to alter for the better, and how soon. If your team fully understands the process and believes in it, everything is going to go along better and, who knows, some of your employees may even surprise you by coming up with valuable input on some changes that are long overdue and could help revolutionize the workplace.
Use a model
Models provide theories and methodologies for a comprehensive approach to change management. It can sometimes be difficult to move from the theoretical aspect of the shifts to practical application. The main objective of a model, therefore, is to ensure that the process is navigated correctly by everyone involved and that the changes are put into practice according to the original strategy.
There are many available prototypes out there, and you’ll have to do a bit of research before settling on one that suits your company perfectly. Even then you may have to do some tweaking, as the key to success often lies in the fine adjustments and customizations you can bring. After all, no business is identical to another, even if they operate in the same industry. Make sure to include the human factor in your model, as individual psychologies are certainly going to have a significant impact on organizational changes of any kind. Communication is key, as is adequate training and the ability to fix mistakes on the go, provided they’re nothing monumental.
Get a professional speaker
When you’re in business you’re accustomed to the changes that permeate every aspect of the environment. New technologies appear all the time, markets shift, and the entire planet is becoming increasingly more connected. And while this is all good news, it also makes for a fast-paced world that needs fast-paced people who can keep up with the constant reshaping, modifications, and variations. It’s not an easy task, which is why you should consider providing your employees with some help.
Change Management Keynote Speakers can provide your team with inspiration and help them reach their ultimate potential with the help of psychological and strategic tools. The speaker you and your company need depends on where you’d like to see improvement. However, whether you’re looking to increase the speed of innovation, a change to the “what if” mindset, or just want to navigate change smoother, you will find just the help you need. By the end of the sessions, your team will feel like no obstacle is too big, and they’ll be better equipped with the tools to make their projects a reality and be more confident in their abilities.
Be compelling
When you’re aiming for change, you should be fully aware of how it’s going to impact your employees. Since they’re definitely going to inquire after that information themselves, you should ensure that you provide them with nothing but pertinent facts and realistic expectations. People will want to know what the changes mean to them, how they’re going to be impacted by them (Longer working hours? Difference in wages? Moving to a different central office?), and what they can do to guarantee the changes are as comfortable as they can be.
When you provide the team with all the facts, you move their role from reactive to proactive and enable them to become vital parts of the development process. They can also help each other out during unexpected and unforeseen events so that the responsibility is shared more equally and it’s not just a handful of people that feel like they have to bear the brunt of all the changes.
Acknowledge resistance
There are many tell-tale signs and signals of resistance such as procrastination, inaction, and even information withholding. These actions are potentially very dangerous for the well-being of the company and the unity of the team. It can cause people to become divided and feel like they can’t trust or rely on their co-workers. This causes the innovation process to stagnate, which isn’t good news for businesses. For this reason, it’s important to identify resistance and address it promptly.
Failing to do so would cause more harm than good, but it’s also important to not be punitive in the measures you choose to employ. When you act too harshly, you run the risk of alienating your staff and causing more complex problems down the line.
Although it’s comfortable to use the same systems, again and again, it’s also important to remember that change is the driving force of improvement, and in its absence, there’s no progress. Uncomfortable as it may be sometimes, it’s also necessary so your enterprise grows, so you must do everything in your power to ensure that it’s successful.
