Change can be scary and confusing – but it’s a fact of life and business. All work teams will encounter change, which can be as minor as changing a simple process, or as complicated as refocusing the team’s overall mission. Good leaders embrace change and know how to guide their members through it.
Leading through change is something I probably didn’t learn in business or any school. In the past, the business world (and the world in general) was more stable and change wasn’t as rapid. Today, flux is a reality and as a leader I must embrace change to be successful. Change offers uncertainty, but also opportunity. It’s a good idea to refocus my thinking to view change as a positive so I can help others do the same.
Step 1: Prepare myself
in my opinion the first step is to help myself. As a leader I need to take a good look at myselves and seek to understand how change affects me.
in my opinion the first step is to help myself. As a leader I need to take a good look at myselves and seek to understand how change affects me.
Also I should address my own concerns with my bosses before communicating with my team. Trying to anticipate what questions my team members might ask and be prepared with answers.
Step 2: Communicate with Clarity
Once I have dealt with the coming change, meet with mybteam early in the process and have an open discussion with them. Communicating a clear picture of the change, including why the change is necessary, and allowing all team members to ask questions and voice their concerns is the best way change should be communicated.
Once I have dealt with the coming change, meet with mybteam early in the process and have an open discussion with them. Communicating a clear picture of the change, including why the change is necessary, and allowing all team members to ask questions and voice their concerns is the best way change should be communicated.
Understand that some team members might prefer to speak with me individually rather than in the group. This is why it’s important to understand how each of my team members works. People react differently to change, and some might take longer than others to embrace change. Focus my initial efforts on early adopters who can help bring others along.
Step 3: Tell the Stories
As a leader, being highly visible and accessible to my members during change is critical to successful change management. It’s a good idea to celebrate each and every success and make sure members continue to understand why the change is necessary. Update people along the way, and also share any failures, because my team will likely encounter some. Constants can help people anchor themselves through change, and allowing people to see benefits of the change and how it will affect them can assist in the process.
As a leader, being highly visible and accessible to my members during change is critical to successful change management. It’s a good idea to celebrate each and every success and make sure members continue to understand why the change is necessary. Update people along the way, and also share any failures, because my team will likely encounter some. Constants can help people anchor themselves through change, and allowing people to see benefits of the change and how it will affect them can assist in the process.
Another practice worth considering is using storytelling to lead people through change. Learn how to become a good storyteller and how to listen to the stories of others.
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