There are instances in your company’s operations, where you have to implement changes to prevent losses. Such a move may not be as smooth as your managers would have thought. Your employees mayresist these changes and sometimes, certain circumstances might arise as well that won’t permit these changes.
It is a typical scene for most companies. Either you fall under the category of a bad employer or demanding to warrant the brunt of your employee’s dissatisfaction.
Such an operational move should not be that impactful on your employees if you know how to handle every aspect of opposition, regardless of the circumstances. Most companies decide on changes because it affects the company’s overall performance, or they need to keep up with the changing business environment.
But either way, everything falls under the right guidance of company executives and what they perceive as ‘good’ for the entire organization.
Overcoming Resistance that Hinders Organizational Change
One of the most commonly faced problems when implementing sudden changes is opposition in the form of resistance. This often springs from many causes including fear of failure, organizational politics, a climate of mistrust, and a poorly aligned or non-reinforced reward system. Most companies struggle to have new policies and processes implemented either because of the combination of these factors or the existence of one or two.
When perceiving threats to a new implementation is at bay, there is only one solution to that – its communication. Communication holds the most potent power to let people understand why such a move needs to be enforced. Florida Business Consulting has always been advocating openness in the business setting because it creates an intangible effect of understanding.
Enlisting the Help of Your Champions
Research shows that the social aspect of implementing changes in the work setting plays an essential factor in resistance. These social aspects are often determined by the presence or absence of resisting forces within the organization. Engaging your champions is one right way of triggering internal communications, which can be handled on a team basis. Your heroes can work from ground level to understand the views of individual employees.
Florida Business Consulting also believes in the power of empowering people to establish a room for management flexibility. Using the abilities of your management team to mold the views of your employees and reshape their thinking can be a smart way of creating change. Whether its adherence to ground rules like the strict implementation of the clean desk policy or various other shifts from the standard behavior, engaging your trusted employees can bring the change immediately.
Develop a Plan in Incremental Steps
Implementing changes within your organization can be a slow and tedious process. There will be reactions and resistance on the part of the employee. Developing a plan with incremental steps will help your people sit-in and adjust themselves to the changes. Making your employees comfortable during the first steps is crucial in preventing difficulties. And with any change, guidance always plays a key role to keep everyone pacified and avoid chaos.
