Organizational change can cause one of the most significant challenges in a manager’s career, whether it is a technological change or a change in the workforce. Managing change effectively is an art that every manager should excel in. This is because an organization’s success is hugely dependent on its people and how they feel. Change can bring uncertainty and fear of the unknown, which can have a devastating impact on employee morale. Leaders like Nathan Garries have successfully led their teams through tremendous amounts of change over the years. Here is what you can do to avoid that impact and effectively lead people through change.
- Create A Vision
One of the first steps a manager needs to take to make the transition as smooth as possible for their subordinates is to create a vision. A vision of where the organization is and where it will be in the future will help give the whole team a sense of direction. The vision should be inclusive of the potential implications of the change and should be created with the employees’ input.
- Communicate
Effective communication is the foundation for a successful organization. This is why it is essential to have the entire workforce on the same page implementing the change. Letting workers know precisely what they should expect and what will be expected of them is one example of communication. Moreover, communication should be positive, motivating, and consistent. Employees should share as much information as possible to get them willingly involved in the process.
“A company is people … employees want to know… am I being listened to or am I a cog in the wheel? People really need to feel wanted.” – Richard Branson
- Set Short-Term Goals
With the uncertainty that change brings, it is often easy to lose sight of long-term objectives and become lost and confused as an organization. Therefore, managers should focus on setting realistic short-term goals that can be achieved daily or weekly. The positive feeling of getting a task done proves a morale booster for the confused workforce in times of change.
- Practice Mindfulness
As a leader like Nathan Garries, your subordinates look up to you for direction and guidance, especially in a time of uncertainty and anxiety. Therefore, they need to be mindful of the thoughts, feelings, and vibes they are projecting. Always staying supportive and talking about the change in a positive manner can have the most significant impact on employee morale.
- Plan For Disaster
As much as everyone part of the organization dreads it, disaster can happen. Whether it is on the front lines with the said change itself or it is a human resource problem, there is a possibility for disaster, and an effective manager acknowledges that. Effective change management goes hand-in-hand with effective disaster management. A manager should know what could go wrong and have backup plans to deal with it.
