No business, regardless of its size, can afford to stand still. This environment always brings new challenges and innovative ways to do things, and companies must adapt to the change to stay competitive. However, before welcoming change into your organization, you must plan it with care; otherwise, it could harm your efficiency. For some employees, especially those with no say in the change, it can lead to a drop in productivity due to frustration.
Change is hard! Neuroscience tells us that people love certainty, and change unsettles them. As a leader, your main role is to ensure your team copes with change, and this is where change management comes. You need to identify the ideal approach to ensure that change is implemented smoothly and thoroughly in your company and more importantly, it has the desired effect.
This article provides information on how to enact productive and positive change at your workplace.
What is change management
Change management is based on several theories, from domains like engineering, behavioral science, systems thinking, and psychology. There are several models to consider when implementing it. Some experts split the process into three main stages: unfreeze, change, and refreeze.
The main idea behind all change management theories is that change never happens as an isolated phenomenon, and change interferes with all organizational processes and employees. However, good change management can encourage the workforce to adapt and embrace the new.
According to specialists, four core principles lay at the heart of successful change management:
– Understand the process
– Plan the process
– Implement change
– Communicate decisions
Recommendations to enact productive change
Change doesn’t happen overnight! Yes, it’s a cliché, but it’s true. You cannot expect to change processes and your employees to accept and adapt overnight. Improvement and innovation might occur on a daily basis in your company, but when you plan large-scale upgrades, ensure everyone is on board with them.
Let your team’s voices be heard
As a team leader, it’s impractical, and even impossible if you manage a large company, to hear the input of every worker related to a decision that might drive organizational change. In addition, employee influence before major decisions could also make you second-guess yourself, and therefore you should avoid consulting your entire workforce before each decision.
However, it would help if you asked for feedback after making a major decision because it’s easier to collect and will provide you with information about what your team thinks about what’s happening. Your workforce will share their concerns regarding the process instead of fears about change. Use digital surveys as they’re easy to create and collect, and provide specific information.
Regardless of how well you manage change, some will always try to resist it. Engage them in the process to understand their concerns better and alleviate the issue in a timely manner.
Offer explications
Communication in the early stages of implementing change is essential when you want to convey something to your team. Ensure there’s open communication between the management and general employees on what is about to happen in the future. The best thing you can do when preparing your workforce for change is to be straightforward, truthful, and timely.
It’s a good idea to tell your workforce why change is necessary for the workplace to help them understand why this step is essential for the growth of the company. When they resonate with the reasons behind your decision, you get them on board with the change, and everything runs smoothly. You can also transform them into change advocates and help your workforce see the big picture and its benefits.
Communicate change effectively
Communication is usually the make-or-break element of change management. Your plan should be clear and relevant, so your employees understand what you expect from them and what they must do. But it would help if you also communicated your intentions using the right tone to get the emotional reaction you want. You can book a change management keynote speaker to ease the communication process because they have experience dealing with these situations and can help you engage your employees more effectively.
It’s crucial to link the changes with your brand’s vision statement and mission because it’ll help your workforce see that it has a positive impact and shares their vision of the future. Collaborating with keynote speakers during the process will ensure that the right message reaches the right people at the right time and everyone receives the necessary support.
Transparency breeds communication, and you can use it to create a foundation for engaging your employees. Relate the changes to the core of your brand’s values, and it will make the process feel more bearable.
Provide training
Maybe a previous plan didn’t work as expected – or maybe your team didn’t fully understand what you require from them. You can avoid dealing with this issue if you roll out a training program that provides them with the necessary skills and information. When training your team, you convey the importance of your initiative and ensure that they are equipped with the necessary tools to support change.
If possible, create digital resources that provide complete data about change and use them as a way to communicate with your workforce. When creating digital resources, ensure that they include measurable goals, information about the process, and ways to analyze the process’ success.
Handle resistance
Changing the way things work can be daunting, but you shouldn’t let fear stand in the way of your brand’s success. Take time to plan the transition and configure the systems and processes to meet your goals. It’s normal for your employees to push back against change; resisting unfamiliarity is human nature. Use creativity and an open mindset as weapons in treating resistance.
Businesses of all sizes constantly experience change as the environment changes, so don’t be afraid to allow your company to grow. Research and planning can help you navigate the process.