In any company, organizational change can be frightening. Whenever our reporting structure is threatened or disrupted organizations may resist or fight back. Very few employees look upon change favorably or with an open mind. So how do you manage the pulse or control the politics of change.
Realizing a few simple concepts will facilitate effective change:
1. Buy in: as a leader in the organization, you may be 100% certain in the change you plan to make. Test your ideas on key individuals. Ask for input but realize that management is not a democracy. By getting input or “testing” your ideas with key staff you are recognizing that individuals and groups act out of self-interest. Allow key staff to better manage the change by making them part of the decision process.
2. Control the message: as a leader you have the benefit of data. More data than your staff and more background on the issues you are dealing with which lead to the change. Although you may want to share openly with your staff you realize that some information isn’t for public consumption. Share what you can. As a leader you should have the trust in your staff that they realize that you have more data than they possess and a vision for the future state. Providing the necessary what, when and why establishes the essential talking points.
3. Communicate: use the phone, use the fax, use e-mail, blog and tell ________ (fill in the blank). Within any organization there will always be those who are with you, those against you and those who need to “be in the know”. The “in the know” folks are useful to control the message. Embrace them with your message and talking points and they will embrace you.
Managing change requires discipline. The discipline to see it through. Managers fail when they lack clear vision for change or treat change like the “flavor of the week”. Although management must have the courage to “make change” you need to avoid constant change. You need persistence. This persistence will provide you with the motivation to keep going.
Should you never give up? No. Sometimes giving up is the best solution. Does anyone know who Traf-O-Data was?