" Change is hard because people overestimate the value of what they have and underestimate the value of what they may gain by giving that up.”
- Ralph C. Stayer
Change management is among the most important strategies for ensuring successful business transformation. Organizations operating in the modern business landscape are now managing more than just customers, products, and employees. They’re also managing new technologies, changing consumer behavior, fluctuating market conditions, and new growth opportunities.
''In
short, businesses must manage Change. To do so, they need to devise ChangeManagement strategies''
The Need for Change Management
Change
Management potentially offers great benefits. It supports a seamless
transition from the old to the new and gives you a map to follow for helping
your employees and your organization evolve with the change. It also helps you
understand the need and the impact of change to respond to the challenges
efficiently while minimizing the possibility of failure.
Regardless of the industry, all change management strategies share three main goals:
- Energize and Incentivize Employees
Nearly 70% of change initiatives fail due to reluctance or lack of support from employees. Change is intimidating, especially when everyone is used to their routine. Change management ensures employees feel supported and recognized. More importantly, most employees follow their self-interests as they should, and as a result, companies offer incentives for encouragement.
- To Improve Return on Investment (ROI)
The organizational change aims to improve efficiency and operations to generate more revenue. Whether it’s new equipment or enhanced communication tools, any change should help employees improve their performance.
- Competitive Edge
Companies evolve through structured change, which helps them gain a competitive edge through reduced expenditure, innovation, and improved customer service.
Change Management Strategies for Successful Organizations
Whether you’re aiming for specific, departmental, or complete business transformation, here are 6 change management strategies you can employ:
- Careful Strategic
Planning
Before you propose the change to your team, make sure you have a clear
plan covering when, how, and why the change is taking place. Ideally,
you’ll have to document the tasks need to get you where you want to be,
assign responsibilities, and answer concerns.
- Clear and Detailed
Execution Plan
A business strategy is useless without a successful execution plan. It is
the crucial bridge between theory and practice, except the margin for
error is thin at an organizational level. A cleared and detailed execution
plan is the key element that can drive the change you want to see. Bad
execution can easily ruin a brilliant business strategy and kill your
ambitions, not to mention waste resources and burn out staff.
- Transparency
Organizational change usually occurs in phases and involves
confidentiality on the part of managers and key individuals. However,
business transformation is a big change. So, it’s helpful to be as
transparent as possible even if you can’t share the details. The idea is
to make your staff feel more comfortable.
- Effective
Communication
Keep all internal communication channels open and take time to explain why
the change is happening. As a leader, make yourself open to questions,
hold short team meetings, and monitor the change management processes.
- Create a Road Map
Help your
employees where the organization stands, where it came from, and where
it’s going. Let them know how the change plays into the company’s history,
culture, and mission. Laying this out demonstrates the strategy behind the
change and will help employees see how they fit into the equation.
-
Realistic Overhaul
Instead of a hasty directional
shift, focus on a longer, more strategic rollout. This will give your
employees a better chance to adjust and slowly adopt new habits,
practices, or even new equipment. All change management strategies aim to
allow everyone to naturally transition themselves and gradually phase out
old practices.
Need More Change Management Strategies?
At ProClipse Consulting, we
help organizations transform themselves and find their true potential using a
pool of change management strategies. If you found any of these strategies
helpful, feel free to get in touch with
us for more.