Organisations can change in the blink of an eye. Downsizing, procedural changes, buy-outs, and other events can cause a business to be completely transformed almost overnight. Many of the changes implemented by organisations in Australia are done to increase competitive advantage and bring more growth opportunities. However, even changes with good intentions can have negative consequences if employees are not handling the change well.
Before implementing large changes within a business, it’s important to develop a plan and work with several elements of an organisation to ensure individuals can effectively manage workplace transformations. One way to help employees cope with change is to participate in change management courses. Sydney businesses have become increasingly aware of the importance of managing employee response to change, so let’s look at some of the strategies used to help cope with organisational transformations.
Start with Leaders
Leadership should be managed first and foremost, as these individuals will help others manage changes and overcome challenges. If leaders are not effectively prepared for change, you can face problems with employees that the individual manages. Leaders need to be purposeful, clear, and focused in their approach. Get on the same page with leaders within your organisation and it will be much easier for other employees to get the hang of new processes, procedures.
Develop a Strategic Plan
Having a specific plan is one of the most important ways to aid in coping with change. Having a plan that is well-developed ensures that the process can be carried out in the most efficient and effective manner, reducing downtime and allowing you to forecast future changes and prepare for them. Being able to assess your team’s current state, implement and train for change, and predict what is needed for future success can greatly reduce stress caused by changes.
Observe & Listen
Looming changes can be stressful and cause changes throughout the workplace and its employees, so you’ll want to keep watch and make note of what changes are occurring in the organisation. Whether the change is large, such as a major restructuring of procedures, are small, such as switching cubicle orientation, employees can become unsettled.
While some employees will bring their concerns to those in a leadership position, many times a change in their performance or behaviour are much better indicators of how they are dealing with change. Once you’ve observed and listened to employees, you can refine your strategy and aim to lessen the negative impact of change; consider change management courses in Sydney.
There is a whirlwind of events and situations in life that are completely out of your control. Knowing how to navigate these changes and adversity that comes into your life is a strong skill, as it increases resilience and leads to enhanced self-awareness and productivity. It’s important that leaders take steps to help employees prepare and train for change in several ways, such as attending resilience training or change management workshops.
Along with workshops and training, organisations can help employees cope with changes by working with individuals in a leadership role, developing a strategy, and using observational skills and active listening to refine change management strategies.
