Associations Next: Voice the Change

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Julie Gedro, Dean of the School of Business at State University of New York Empire State College. She tells us how to thoughtfully lead change by being empathetic and a good communicator.

Takeaways:

1. Communication takes time. It may seem like sending an email takes a minute or less, but during times of significant change, you need to put time and energy into how your messages are crafted. Dr. Gedro suggests seeing this time as an investment rather than an expense.
2. Provide messages in a variety of ways. Everyone receives messages differently, so communicating in different ways sets up you and your employees up for greater connection and success. Odds are, you will never communicate too much.
3. Develop a habit of empathy. Developing trust can greatly impact your ability to succeed in your change efforts. Dr. Gedro explains that this trust must be developed over time, as you cannot convince your way into being trusted. You can do this by showing interest in your team’s points of view and opening yourself up to their opinions.

To dig deeper, check out these reading suggestions provided by Dr. Gedro:

Shulga, L. V. (2020). Change Management Communication: The Role of Meaningfulness, Leadership Brand Authenticity, and Gender. Cornell Hospitality Quarterly, 1-18, doi:10.1177/1938965520929022

Bridges, William. Bridges Transition Model. Accessed on 5/28/2021: https://wmbridges.com/about/what-is-transition/

Gedro, J. Allain, N. M., De-Souza, D., Dodson, L.,  & Mawn, M. V.  (2020): Flattening the learning curve of leadership development: reflections of five women higher education leaders during the Coronavirus pandemic of 2020, Human Resource Development International, DOI: 10.1080/13678868.2020.1779911

Listen to the Episode: Voice the Change