The Value of Having a Change Management Strategy

Change management ensures your people and processes are ready to move forward and helps them adjust to the new status quo. Whether your changes have been a long time coming or you’re hit with the sudden need to evolve, The Center for Leadership Studies (CLS) has meaningful tips and tools to help you ease the transition.

The 8 Most Powerful Change Management Strategies

There are plenty of ways to navigate change, but in our experience, these are some of the most effective.

1. Start With a Clear Goal

Having a clear, detailed vision ensures everyone involved in your company’s changes knows the plan for moving forward. Discuss your proposed next steps with your team and other leaders in your organization to gain insight into how your plan will affect them. This way, you can decide on a mission that does the most good for the most people.

2. Measure Results As You Go

As you establish your plan, you should also consider how you’ll measure your progress from the start. Results are gradual in most cases and monitoring them can help you see the differences even as you’re still in the middle of implementing them. You can share these results amongst your staff to help them stay motivated to continue with your plan.

3. Be Ready and Willing to Adapt

Whether due to unforeseeable challenges or shifting expectations, some parts of your plan may need adjusting as you reach them. Remember this is normal and that every company experiencing change goes through it. See these moments as opportunities to find an even better way forward that has a broader appeal or fewer complexities.

4. Keep Open Communication Channels

In business, communication is always key, but it is more important than ever as you progress through company changes. That means being honest and transparent as soon as management confirms changes are going live and keeping all employees and staff updated through every stage of the process. This openness can help prevent people from feeling left out or blindsided when it’s time to pivot your operations in earnest.

5. Address Resistance Early

Even the most well-meaning plans will face resistance. Change scares a lot of people, but that doesn’t mean it’s not necessary or a good thing. As soon as you’re made aware of dissenting opinions, try to address them as objectively as possible. Is there a deeper reason that these individuals or groups are concerned? Is there a way for you to find a compromise that benefits both parties?

6. Support Your Staff

Change can be stressful for lower-level employees, as many of them see change as something that can negatively impact their security. Whether this is the case or not, leadership and management should be prepared to answer those tough questions from the moment the change is announced. Listen to your employees and do everything you can to help them feel safe and supported.

7. Provide Adequate Training

Changes bring new technologies, workflows and projects, and for your staff to move through the transition, they have to be prepared to face all of those. Create training protocols and get your team members involved as soon as possible to reduce the learning curve once these changes go live. Your staff will feel more confident moving into this new era, and your bottom line will thank you.

8. Be a Confident and Empathetic Leader

Finally, the best thing you can do as a leader is to understand your staff’s concerns and excitement and confidently lead them into new waters. Your team looks up to you to follow your lead—if you’re excited about what’s next, they will be too, which also means they’ll work harder and help these changes get off the ground faster.

When Should You Implement These New Strategies?

Whether you’re still considering a change or you’ve already put new projects into action, the right time to implement these change management strategies is NOW. The sooner you start, the sooner your business can realize its new future. If you’re still unsure of how to begin, our team at The Center for Leadership Studies can help.

Manage Change Effectively With The Center for Leadership Studies

Leading through change requires more than good organization. Leaders have to be prepared to ease staff concerns and develop new strategies that offer support while encouraging growth. In a world where most change initiatives fail, the Situational Leadership® model offers a beacon to help you find your footing and lead your team to new successes.

CLS’s Situational Change Leadership™ course is here to help leaders like you discover what change looks like in your workplace and how to instill resiliency in your staff far into the future. Discover our best-kept secrets by signing up for a workshop today. You can also contact us to learn more about how our model works.