If you were to sit down with a selection of people who have been running the same business for over a decade, most of them would be able to tell stories involving organizational change. The goals of companies shift over time as do the industries they operate in. On top of that, even if the goals of a company remain similar to their origins, any company met with success must adapt and grow to maintain what they have achieved. Like it or not, a company needs to and will change. Therefore, it stands to reason that having an effective plan for managing this organizational change is wise. Harvard professor John P. Kotter gave additional reasons for doing so, “The rate of change is not going to slow down anytime soon. If anything, competition in most industries will probably speed up even more in the next few decades.”
If your company has found itself facing a time of fluctuation, seeking out winning strategies for effective organizational change is the road forward. Look no further for these as we’ve spoken to a few business people with experience.
Involve Employees
Drake Ballew is the CEO of Practice Health, a brand offering Mental Healthcare. He suggests allowing for many voices to contribute to finding organizational change solutions because many minds make light work.
“There are so many relationships in the world of business which exist in harmony, directly benefiting from one another. It’s these types of relationships which can create success for any business. But those in charge must allow that harmony to extend further than they might think. I’m talking about matters of organizational change. Be direct and involve your employees in the discussions and brainstorming dedicated to whatever change is on the horizon. Not only does this build up your culture, but I also think you’ll find some solutions you wouldn’t have otherwise.”
Plan Out Everything
A well-designed method for navigating change can make a world of difference. Greater Than is a business providing natural electrolyte drinks for nursing moms. Their CEO and Co-Founder, Mark Sider, advises this approach.
“If business is like war, then organization change is like going into battle. You’re up against the elements of the industry and potentially some inter-business relationships. The best generals have a bulletproof plan of attack no matter what the circumstances are. They have taken the time to research all they can about the opposition as well as the setting of the battle. Seeing as management holds a similar role to that of a general, it’s their responsibility to ensure everything about the looming change is planned out. Unless you love chaos, start creating that plan of attack so you can keep that change as straightforward as possible.”
Present Change Thoughtfully
ETIAS.com specializes in European travel information and authorization systems. Their Director of International Development, Ryan Azimi, considers it necessary to realize that much of the perception of organizational change is influenced by the way management discusses it.
“In the study of communication amongst higher learning institutions, it’s understood that the tone and delivery of a message is just as important as the content of the message itself. A very basic example of this is when we talk to our pets. Realistically, they don’t know our words but they can recognize what the tone of our voice means. Let’s take this a step further. Say you’re running a company which is about to merge with another. If you go to your employees and the way you speak of this merger is anything but positive, employees will come away feeling uncertain at the very least. These seeds of uncertainty can grow to the point where they pose a threat to the change entirely.”
Adaptation Is Key
Asker A. Ahmed is the Director of iProcess, a brand offering biospecimens and research. He cautions others to avoid stubborn decision making as it can result in more hindrance than any person would prefer.
“Walking into a business situation in flux will cause this natural reaction in leaders to want to fix it, and possibly fix it their way. While the former is massively beneficial to a company that finds themselves in this position, the latter could be harmful. At the end of the day, the goal is to solve whatever problem is making itself known at each moment. So why should it matter how you arrive at that point? What I’m saying is that if a new idea or piece of information comes along, don’t be afraid to adapt your organizational change strategy in accompaniment with it.”
Crystal-Clear Communication
Business operations involve an abundance of moving parts and organizational change only adds to this. 7 Wonders Cinema is a business providing full-service branded video strategy, production, and delivery. Their Co-Founder and Executive Producer, Stephen Skeel, proposes a counter measure of highly detailed communication.
“It doesn’t matter how you cut it, organization change is tricky for everyone involved, top to bottom. Roles are shifting, responsibilities are moving, people are on their way in or out the door, there’s a lot going on. Whatever the case for your company, everyone needs to be aware of how the changes affect them and what they need to be doing because of this. If crystal-clear communication doesn’t take place, organization change will quickly become organizational craziness.”
Educate yourself
Brandon Blackwood specializes in contemporary accessories and goods. Their PR Coordinator, Noel Jones, believes making the most of the educational and practical resources related to organizational change management is wise.
“There are so many variables associated with change management you could spend hours creating a list of them and still not get close to flushing out the idea completely. But with how often it can be part of work life, it’s crucial to gain a better understanding of much of it you can. For example, it might behoove you to look over some models for change management. Experts have put these together as sort of a blueprint for what to do and they’ve aided a variety of companies.”
Alongside individual learning, delving into the principles of Enterprise Change Management provides a more comprehensive framework, equipping businesses to systematically manage change through advanced tools and strategies, thereby ensuring a more integrated and effective approach to organizational transformation.
Hopefully, the information above has pointed you in the right direction for effective organization change management. Should you need additional inspiration, consider the words of speaker and author Mark Sanborn, “Your success in life is not based on your ability to simply change. It is based on your ability to change faster than your competition, customers, and business.”
