Change Management Series: Lead People Through Change, Don’t Just Manage the Change

[feat-img-left]Change is a difficult time for both organizations and individuals. It takes strong leadership to navigate through disruption successfully. But luckily, good leadership is definitely achievable, as long as you approach the task with an open and receptive mindset. Being a good leader takes vision and decisiveness, but it also takes a personal touch that connects leadership to staff. It takes the ability to rally, inspire and motivate workers, and convince everyone that they are all working toward the same goals. While it is a challenge to drive that change while maintaining a high comfort level, good leadership can make all the difference. Here are a few things you can do to ease into the process.

Solicit Feedback

Ask questions. Talk about what’s going on and be receptive to feedback from your employees who are experiencing the change in real-time. This is very helpful to align your business goals with the realities of the workplace and is good to initiate on a regular basis. The insights provided can help you learn how to set your employees up for success in a disruptive time. Individuals will also appreciate the opportunities to having their voices heard.

Get to Know Your Team

If you don’t know all your employees on a higher level than their employment status, now is the time to dig deeper because during times of change you run the real risk of losing their trust and reducing morale. Take a little time to get to know them personally. Ask and learn about their families, their interests, their goals, and their concerns. Keep in touch, follow up and stay interested. The same strategies which help connect you with your clients will help you build a better rapport with your staff.

Show Compassion

People hold loyalty for people they know and trust. Don’t allow yourself to remain a faceless entity that is simply responsible for their reoccurring paycheck. Connect with your staff and show your compassion to invest in reaching their hearts and minds. A good leader is a compassionate one. Show that compassion in your corporate policies, in your giving of second chances, and in your efforts within the community as a whole. Make decisions from a leadership perspective with an eye to making your employees proud to say they work for your company. You’d be surprised how far a little kindness will go toward building your reputation as a strong leader.

Are taking your team through internal change?

How will you manage your change strategies? What employees will be impacted by your leadership style? How will your success be influenced by their moral and engagement? For support in guiding your employees through a positive change process, consider reaching out to Clarity Consultants for more ideas and insight into building a strong workforce and growing your business.