Three Tips to Lead Successful Change in 2022
In last week’s post, we highlighted the 2022 workforce trends given that we are just days away from heading into the new year. Some organizations are already ahead of the curve and have fully embraced and institutionalized these practices. However, many other organizations may still be in the process of transformation (or have not yet started to adapt).
If an organization wishes to adopt some of these practices in order to remain competitive, it is important that there is a successful change strategy in place. Below we have highlighted 3 tips to help ensure that you are able to kick-off changes on the right foot.
1. Select a change management model to serve as your foundation
There are numerous research-backed change management models to help guide you through the change process (e.g., Lewin’s Change Management Model and Prosci’s Model, to name a couple). Selecting a model will help to ensure that you are not reinventing the wheel and are laying the groundwork for success.
2. Open up the lines of communication
Effective communication is paramount to the successful rollout of any change. In particular, change management communication provides clarity for why the change is needed, what needs to be done, the role of employees in supporting the change, and how the change is progressing. Change management communication should also provide a feedback loop by empowering employees and providing them with a voice. This can be in a number of formats, including but not limited to surveys, focus groups, and all-hands sessions. Remember, providing a voice to employees is one of the most sure-fire ways of driving commitment and engagement.
3. Ensure leadership is on board
While opening the lines of communication is important in any change initiative, sponsorship from the top is also a necessary component. In fact, lack of direct executive sponsorship is often cited as one of the reasons why many changes tend to fail. How can you get executives on board? Ensure that you educate them on the importance of the change and the vital roles that each play in supporting the change. Then, it’s just a matter of determining the how they will demonstrate their advocacy (e.g., emails, all-hands meetings, newsletters, etc.).
These are just some quick tips to help ensure that your change initiatives go smoothly and that you have a successful 2022. However, if you still need assistance, we would be happy to help.
Happy New Year from the CMA Global team!
