Driving Change when your staff don't want to

Surprising fact #1: We want Change

We often say we want Change when it suits our needs. But when actually forced to change, many of us actually resist changing.

Well that is unless you happen to be a wet baby - but they're probably not reading this blog.

Surprising fact #2: But none of us want to

So if we all want Change, why do we resist so much?


FEAR!
Losing our security blanket. 

UNCERTAINTY
Moving us out of our comfort zone.

DOUBT
Choosing not to see the big picture.

So what should we do?

Communicate! To overcome the FUD that is undoubtedly impairing your Change effort you need to over communicate with your team and customers what the big deal is. 

Communicate this in terms that they understand. 

You need to communicate openly about why this Change is so important. Get into the details of the What (potentially bad thing) happens if we don't change?

It's also essential that you actively listen. First to ensure that you earn their trust. And second to ensure that you haven't missed any critical details in the planned Change.

Led by communicators they trust.

Hint: in the case of Change that may not be you.

Search amongst your team for those that others look to for advice and improvement. They can be your best advocates of Change.

Watch out for those that actively resist - make sure they're not in a critical role for your planned Change.

Be a role model for your planned Change. 

Your team is watching you so YOU need to change as much as they do.

Your team doesn't know how to implement the change being asked of them. Develop maps highlighting descriptions of the new patterns of behavior. <Link to post on gamification>

Reinforce with realistic goals and objectives. <Link to post on measurement>

You need to Drive

Change is inevitable. Pace of change is increasing.

To maximize our impact we need to support the business in developing services that customers value.

This requires us to to increase our team's ability to Change, and make sure we're serving and supporting the right customers.

Was this useful?

If you found this post useful, please help me share it with others and encourage them to subscribe to the blog.