Guiding People through Change
Change management is the structured process of adapting your business practices to changes in the marketplace. Some reasons for change may be:
- Changes in your customers’ needs
- Deployment of IT applications
- Growth or restructuring of your business
- Adoption of best practices
The process of change is too important to leave to chance. This means considering the impact of change on all parts of your organization, and most of all, on the people who will be affected. Change can frighten people, because they are asked to move beyond what they already know.
Intulogy believes that the way to implement change is to care about people and their needs. To create a positive message of change, you should commit to the following:
- Talk about current practices and consider new solutions
- Discuss reasons for change
- Listen to concerns and ideas
- Invest resources and time to properly plan change
- Explore goals and envision results
If people are asked to embrace a new way of doing business or to use new technology tools, they need training and support during the change management process.
Communication is Critical
Once a plan is developed it is important to communicate it clearly to everyone involved. Make sure that they understand the goals, intended outcomes, and individual steps related to the change.
People may be confused by change, especially if they do not fully understand the technology or process being introduced. They may be afraid to ask questions, and they may act with only a partial understanding. Let’s look at an example.
In the 1950’s, a young driver sat behind the steering wheel for the first time. The driving instructor explained that the car was an “automatic.” Instantly, a flash of inspiration came to the driver, who said “Car, take me to the store.” The driver then expected the car to come to life and drive itself to the store.
This confusion happened because the driving instructor provided only partial information about a change. Although automatic transmissions were a new technology, the instructor mistakenly assumed that the driver understood the technology and how to use it properly.
When introducing change, do not assume that people will instantly understand the new technology, product, or process. Take time to explain the change and how it will affect them.
Where Do We Start?
Many companies seek a consultant’s support in managing significant change events. Intulogy can offer: