Breaking Down What Change Management Is
After an unprecedented year like 2020, many organizations began looking at themselves and their industries in new, creative ways. Navigating change can be challenging for leaders and employees alike, so how do we move through this process post-2020? As Harvard Business Review put it, “traditional change management — often characterized by heavy process, lengthy timelines, and clunky rollouts — won’t cut it right now.”
Put simply, change management is all about being a thoughtful, organized leader. There are endless approaches online for the best change management process, but let’s start this blog series by breaking down the core elements of what change management encompasses.
- Goals: Forbes explains that you need a clearly defined goal anytime you are approaching change. Whether you are taking a traditional or a more contemporary approach, you need an end goal that you are striving to achieve. Put in the effort up front to clearly define your goal and work backward from there. This will help you determine your steps and approach to change.
- Communication: Mind Tools claims communication as one of their four key principles to good change management. This includes communication to your team and your employees. Be sure to explain why this change is happening and be clear about what you expect as a leader. Open yourself up to comments and thoughts from your team and employees so that everyone feels heard and in the know when it comes to big transitions.
- Prepare for resistance: You will inevitably face some challenges as you are navigating change. Whether it’s employee resistance or logistical challenges, you will need to prepare. If it is employees who are resisting, make sure to hear them out and reassure them that they will be okay. If you are facing logistical challenges, communicate frequently with your team to solve the issue.
No organizational change process is the same, but preparing yourself based on others who have successfully navigated change will help you in your process, too.
