Change is always happening and is one of the most constant challenges for today’s business owners. Change is not only stressful for business owners, very often it is also very stressful for employees. We all know that happy and productive employees are invaluable for a business, so helping employees to deal with change in a positive manner makes good business sense. I have compiled three quick tips for employers to help lead their staff through change.
Communicate
Clear communication with your staff is invaluable. If we allow rumours and inuendo to randomly spread, we risk great harm to our businesses. When change is affecting staff, it is important to keep them informed early and often. Informed staff feel more valued and can also feel they are part of the process.
Healthy communication with staff often develops deeper bonds and this can result in staff being more productive and remaining with a company longer. Remember that communication works two ways. Listen and acknowledge what is being communicated back to you, remember to show empath.
Look for opportunity and stay positive
Your staff look to you for leadership and inspiration. It is important to remain positive and look for opportunities, no matter what is thrown in your path. Sometimes it may not require major action to deal with change, what initially looks serious may sometimes only require a rework of some policies and procedures.
Encourage your staff to take initiative, to look for and suggest solutions. When you encourage your staff to be part or the solution you keep them moving forward, they benefit and so should your business.
Train and prepare
Training and learning new skills helps you and your staff to prepare for change. This can also help you look at things in differently, an ability invaluable for any business. Learning new skills should not be seen as a burden on the business, but as an investment. By investing in your staff, you show them they are important, they become more productive and you help them prepare for change with more skills and experience.
Conclusion
Some people have a very difficult time adapting to change, these same people are valuable to our businesses. We invest in infrastructure, machinery, software etc to improve productivity. The most important investment you can make in your business is in your people. While training courses can deliver great results, informal training, mentoring, or coaching for you or your staff can yield excellent results.
I would love to hear your ideas on change and how you deal with it. If you would like to discuss this or other topics of interest drop me a line or give me a call. I would love to buy you a coffee and have a chat
