5 Effective Change Management Strategies

They say, “Change is the only constant.” I believe it as change certainly has and continues to be a key force in my life’s path – both personally and professionally. I empathize with individuals and organizations struggling with change – a recurring theme in the business landscape.

Frequent and sudden communication technology changes driven by Moore’s Law add a second layer of complexity when it comes to staying competitive. It is essential for companies to continuously develop and reassess best practices for organizational change management. If you are struggling to decide on the most effective change management principals, you’ve come to the right place.

To avoid high costs, lost opportunities and diminished morale, consider applying the following five change management strategies to your organization.

Revisit the company values.

Revisit the core values of your organization. Cultural norms and values are ever-changing, which means the values of your company should be too. These values should go through continuous improvement to reflect the changes being made to the work life of employees. By establishing a continuous evolution and improvement of company values, employees may be more receptive to systematic changes. It also provides a chance for you to become more invested in the company, by taking a personal look at what it stands for.

Establish a plan.

Change is almost always met with some sort of resistance. However, organizations can combat this opposition by establishing a “roadmap” that identifies a beginning, middle and end destination to be reached. It is also beneficial to establish the resources that are to be leveraged, all objectives and costs. This makes the process more transparent to everyone involved versus executing changes in one felt swoop.

It is also important to recruit voices of change amongst everyone involved, in all positions within the company, not just upper management. Employees who understand and value changes can better communicate this knowledge to others.

Incentivize.

It is always a good idea to offer incentives! Incentive ideas include various rewards and recognition programs that are based on the new company values. This will help to underscore the importance of this initiative, reassuring all employees that key leaders are committed to this change, encouraging necessary action and behavior during a chaotic time. Not to mention it shows appreciation and support for the employees during this transition.

Gradually adapt to an entirely new structure.

Create an entirely new structure and gradually transfer employees from the old one. This provides clarity and consistency. It shifts the focus from specific changes to an entirely new structure, which provides a much easier transition for everyone involved.

Celebrate successes.

Be sure to take time and recognize the successes of the company during this transition process. You deserve it! Encourage motivation amongst employees who are undertaking the change, and they will feel more positive about the whole situation. This also acts as another incentive for employees to adopt and accept the change management process, as well as the change itself.

Change is inevitable with any organization. And when it comes to change management, the right system in place can make all the difference. So go ahead. Take a deep breath and start reassessing those company values. Establish a clear cut plan and offer initiatives. You will find that you and your employees are more than ready to take this on. Just remember to celebrate your successes!