A company or organization cannot be successful if it does not go through changes, that is a fact. Take Blockbuster video for example, a real tragedy for the American people.
Blockbuster video was an American home movie and video game rental provider. Their services provided people the ability to watch many movies at home with DVDs, VHRs, and more. The company peaked in 2004, having thousands of stores across the United States. As the years went by, people got the ability to stream movies at home using streaming services. But Blockbuster decided to stay the way it was, and unfortunately went bankrupt in 2010.
The point is that companies need change, whether they want to or not. However, organizational change by itself won’t guarantee the success of the company, many factors have to be taken into consideration.
The preparations of organizational changes are just as important as the change itself; It allows for a proper framework for the changes to actually work. Keep reading this blog post to get some insight on how exactly you should prepare your company for organizational change.
The vision of the change must be conveyed
As much as we say change is important and necessary, you can’t change everything for no reason. There always has to be a reason for change, or else you might be attempting to fix something that was never broken to begin with. It’s important to know exactly why the change is happening and why your company has to do it.
The reason for this is because your employees need to understand precisely what is happening and why. If the employees of your company are unaware of these changes, the change will be confusing for all, and the new vision won’t be applied.
Keep your employees updated
Your employees need to have the total 411 about the change. The employees who won’t really be affected that much with the change can just get a general description about what will be happening. The employees who will be specifically affected will need to know every detail about what the change will entail and what it will mean for them.
They will also need to be updated regularly about how the transformation is going and if anything about it has changed since the last time you have informed them about it. Being kept in the loop will make them feel as included as they are, and they will embrace the change even more. Asking them for any feedback can also be beneficial for not only you but them as well.
Ask for help
It is a hard task to try and make sure the company or organization still runs smoothly all while organizational changes are happening. This is why it’s important to ask for help when you know it’s needed.
You can find help at Bizzdesign.com, they are specialized in facilitating big changes in company’s and making sure it goes successfully.
Create value by teaching them he necessary knowledge and skills
New processes, tools, or changes may be met with opposition from staff if it is not made clear how they would benefit from the shift.
Focus on training your staff so that they can confidently adapt to the new situation, and make sure they understand how the change will benefit their day-to-day life.
Seek constructive criticism before going for changes
When people in an organisation feel their voices won't be heard or their input won't be considered, they are more likely to oppose change.
Having your staff fill out questionnaires about how they feel about the transition and how they might make the process simpler is a good idea.
Reach an understanding with your staff
When making a choice, you should always get input from people who will be implementing it: your staff. Work up a timeframe and strategy for managing and executing the change with your team.
Encourage some level of employee participation in the change management strategy
When workers are given opportunities to contribute to decisions, they feel valued and respected. Make sure to include your team's most vital players in the change management and rollout process so that everyone may feel like they have a stake in the project's success.
Maintain clear and transparent communication
Building trust between management and staff requires keeping everyone up to date on any policy or procedure changes as soon as they are implemented.
If there is information you have and are able to share with workers, please do so. It's permissible to respond with, “I'll check into it and follow up with you” or “I'll share that information with you as soon as I get it” if you don't have the answer at that moment. The less likely they are going to conjecture and the situation will spiral out of control when you communicate with them openly and honestly.
Examine the efficiency of your organisational transformation
Because it sheds light on the impact the change has on the company as a whole, measurement is an essential part of the transition. The change implementation process is iterative, so if something doesn't go as anticipated, it may be adjusted or kept for a later phase.
Make the transition interesting and engaging
Putting an emphasis on deliberate, clear, and consistent communication helps employees comprehend the reasoning behind a change. This kind of precise dissemination of information furnishes the background necessary for appreciating the change's why, what, and so what.
The key to effective communication is addressing the most pressing concern of your audience: how will this affect me personally and professionally? When workers have a better grasp of the transformation, they are more willing to volunteer their assistance.
This transformation from mindless conformity to genuine involvement and conviction is remarkable. Staff buy-in is especially important in preventing potential roadblocks to progress caused by employee opposition to change.
Keep track of the high and low points of the momentum
The process of implementing change will have its ups and downs. Leaders may take advantage of and actively manage these moments. Change leaders should use the high points of the process to celebrate victories and keep the momentum going.
Leaders should reorient their communication techniques during low moments to better solicit employee feedback and strengthen the bonds of trust and support. Leaders that are proactive in their approach to change management tend to achieve more success.
Pay careful attention to resistance
Opposition to change is a cancer on the road to progress in any organisation's growth. Early detection of resistance makes it simpler to overcome. Leaders should keep an eye out for behaviours such as inactivity, procrastination, information concealment, and rumour dissemination when dealing with aversion to change. Finding sources of resistance requires open lines of communication.
In order to quickly react to any signals of resistance, it is important to set up feedback loops with your staff, such as surveys, feedback channels, and input sessions.
Successful, expanding businesses depend on change, and people are the driving force behind change. Leaders set themselves and their organisations up for success in the face of organisational change when they actively involve staff and maintain open lines of communication.
