Change is the six-letter word that makes most of us cringe.
Ask anyone how they feel about change, and most people will tell you it’s not their favourite thing to experience in life. That’s because change can be incredibly difficult and more than a little stressful—especially when change occurs in the workplace.
Below are four strategies you can implement before, during and after the next change episode in your workplace to ensure your team stays positive, optimistic, and both mentally and emotionally resilient.
Inclusion
It’s amazing how many companies and organisations roll out new changes without ever informing their employees beforehand.
This can lead to confusion, anger, and distrust among employees. People don’t like unexpected losses, and they certainly don’t like to feel as if they’ve lost control.
Wherever it’s possible, it’s absolutely vital for leaders to let their employees ‘in’ on the change that’s soon to take place.
An easy way to accomplish this is to invite them into planning meetings so that they feel they have ownership of the change from the start.
Security
Sometimes, change can be an extensive process. It can last for weeks, months, or even years.
This is a very fragile time for employees because they’re still learning ‘the ropes’ of the change, as well as what to expect at each and every turn. This can often lead to anxiety in some team members, who may feel as if they’re experiencing a loss of certainty and security.
To combat this, it’s important to provide them with a new sense of safety.
How?
Set easy-to-understand timetables that serve as roadmaps for the change and go over new processes in-depth, answering any and all questions employees may have. This will reinstate their feeling of security and allow them to trust the change on a higher level.
Community
As social creatures, we depend on others for support constantly. We want to feel as if we belong.
In too many cases, employee morale has reached an all-time low during change because people no longer feel connected to each other.
As a leader, you can ensure this doesn’t happen by regularly investing in team building activities for your staff.
When you build a solid foundation through such activities, you ensure that your employees can thrive and build healthy workplace relationships with one another—a great tool to lean on during change.
Development
In the wake of a change, some employees may feel left behind because of new tasks that are mismatched with their current skillset.
When people don’t feel they have the skills to perform a job well, it can lead to stress, anxiety, and frustration, which eventually results in low morale and poor performance.
Fortunately, this is easily remedied.
Keep your employees sharp and on top of their game by continuously providing training, education, mentorship and support during and after times of transition.
When you invest in your employees’ skillset and talents, you not only make your team stronger but you also equip an individual with the confidence to perform a job well and the dedication to contribute their best work to the team moving forward.
When you employ the four strategies above, you’ll create a work environment that feels not just positive but cohesive as well.
The more people feel as if they’ve been heard, guided, supported, and developed, the more they’ll feel capable of facing the changes that your company faces, making for a stronger, more adaptive, and happier team.
