Why is it so hard for people to change? We all get settled into the way we do things and then someone comes up with something bigger and better. That is when the majorityof us freak out! I think change is exciting. Learning new things and ways of doing them is exciting to me but I am a risk taker. People that are risk adverse do not feel quite as comfortable with change. I have a few ideas about how to help these employees be more comfortable.
Awareness is the first step. Not only do people need know but they need to understand why the change is important. People support what they help create. If awareness of how your team is about to create something exceptional is communicated, the reception will be quicker and more positive.
Communicating the need, reason and plan is important to setting the stage for a successful transition. Employees want to know why things are done. I interviewed some employees of a client to learn more about how they do a particular segment of their jobs. They had very few nice things to say about the way things were being done. After more research, I found out it was because they have no idea why the processes are done the way they are. Explaining the policies and procedures and why things are done a certain way, helped them understand the business decision behind the policy. BINGO!! It was a simple fix to a big problem.
Making employees aware can ease the pain for everyone involved. For every change, event, policy or procedure; a communication plan needs to be in place. It doesn’t have to be complicated but it needs to be formal. Gossip can be lethal. Awareness of the REAL story will make everyone’s life better. Think of awareness first before implementing any change project.
