The 3 Steps of Effective Change Management

Like death and taxes, change is certain. And, when confronted by change, your organization can evolve by embracing and adapting to change or get destroyed by it by doing nothing.

Organizational change isn’t something you can execute overnight. For it to be successful, companies hire change management professionals to bring everyone on board and pay close attention to those affected the most by organizational change.

Initiating and implementing change take both skill and talent. That’s why it’s a profession. If your organization is going through an evolution, here are a few steps to follow to make change management more effective.

Identify and Define the Change

The first step to solving a problem is to identify the change needed to correct it. This includes a thorough analysis and review of your organizational objectives and business goals when defining this change. This step helps your team realize the significance, urgency, and impact of the organizational change you plan on making.

Think about how you would answer the following questions:

• Whatexactly needs to change, and why?
• Whomwould this change affect, and in what ways?
• Howdoes the change align with your short- and long-term business goals?
• Whatwill you need to do to bring about this change?

The more you know, the better prepared you’ll be to deal with change management.

Communicate and Manage Risks

One of the biggest mistakes you can make during the organizational change process is keeping your employees in the dark. Effective change management depends on open communication that doesn’t just inform employees of your plans but also addresses their concerns and frustrations.

Many times, employees are resistant to change because of the fear of the unknown or certain risks associated with the change. Expect this attitude and take measures to address it. Be as transparent as you can to gain your employees’ trust and create a safe space for them to express their reluctance. Keeping the lines of communication open will help with the transition process.

Provide Effective Training

Don’t forget to provide proper training to your team. Whether they need to learn new skills, have to use new tools, or are required to shift to a completely different operating model, make sure you make the process easier for your employees by offering ongoing training.

Ask yourself what behaviors or skills are needed to ensure you get the best results. Employ the best training delivery methods to transfer this knowledge and witness a successful change management process.

Our recruitment experts at Brookwoods Group provide customized change management recruitment solutions to help organizations find professionals who can help them transition to the next phase of their evolution. Our change management communications recruiters will help you find candidates who have the expertise and experience in leading change management activities.

Contact our executive staffing firm in Austin today to learn more.