In the business world, change is never easy. A common first reaction to change is panic or skepticism. In fact, 70% of change initiatives fail. This type of failure is a complete waste of time and resources, and it cuts significantly into your productivity.
So, when your team is facing change, it’s important to attack the transition in the most effective way. Remember these three keys to maintaining productivity and boost team morale internally.
Keep communication open.
One of the worst mistakes that managers make during times of change is failing to be transparent. Team loyalty dissipates quickly when employees feel their manager isn’t being honest with them. That’s why there is a communication element to most change management training courses. It’s critical to communicate the following items to the team:
- The nature of the change
- The reason why the change is being made
- The timeline for the change
- The direct effect the change has on your team
- The impact the change has on individuals’ daily work
When employees have this type of information, they feel more prepared for what’s to come. And when a manager fosters open communication, employees know they have a trustworthy leader.
Guide your team through the change.
When preparing for change, don’t leave your team hanging. One helpful change management training tactic that shows your team support is continuous coaching.
If, for example, the change you’re facing involves diminishing the size of the current team, coach your employees to pick up the slack and take responsibility for new tasks. Identify the difficulties they may encounter during that change and support them through the new processes.
If your team’s daily work is being impacted by the change, use employee and management training courses to prepare them for the new way work is done. Management training in times of change may seem like an added task or complication to an already busy time, but continuous learning keeps employees engaged in their work and loyal to the company. You also have an opportunity to choose courses that may smooth out the transition.
Follow through.
The easiest way to ensure that updated processes are adhered to and that you’ve managed change successfully is through continuous follow up with your team to ensure that they are on board and understand the new way. Monitor your team and keep track of successful implementation. Reporting these successes encourages others and demonstrates a commitment to change.
Once processes have been implemented, request feedback from your team on how change management could be improved in the future. This step maintains communication even after the change occurs and helps boost productivity going forward.
There’s a lot more to learn about change management and the tactics that help tackle new processes. Download Change Management: 5 Principles To Combat Ineffective Leadership now for more information.
