When you are leading change, you’ll need to act in a proactive, planned and purposeful way. That’s how you and your team will move from where you are today to where you want to be in the future. During this time, it’s important to help your staff stay engaged, motivated and focused. Here are some ways to do this:
- Keep employees in the communication loop to reduce fears and rumors. Rumors can cause serious damage, not only to individual morale but also to an organization’s reputation. Rumors arise from uncertainty, anxiety and ambiguity. Be an effective leader by using current, reliable information in your frequent communication to contain rumors and eliminate ambiguity. BONUS: Communication allows you to take the pulse of your team regularly when you include requests for suggestions and feedback.
- Be clear about what is changing and what is not changing. Employees often assume that everything is going to change, so it is important to alleviate this anxiety, clarify the scope and impact of change, and talk about what will remain unchanged.
- Use consistency to reassure your team. You and your leadership team should use a consistent approach to decision making as change moves forward. Your team will be confident that decisions are being made for the right reasons when they hear the leadership team speak with “one voice.”
- Be visible and available. Visibility during times of change provides your team with a sense of stability and continuity. Visibility helps you alleviate fear and uncertainty. It helps your staff renew their commitment to expectations and priorities and keep everyone focused on key goals. Some individuals may need frequent assurances, so keep your door open and give them access to your time.
- Realize your impact. The emotional tone you create has a personal impact on your team and other leaders, so be thoughtfully intentional about the tone you set. Remember, others are gauging your reaction to these changes and taking their cue from you to guide their own responses. As a leader, you have two difficult jobs: empathize with employees and deal with your own stress. Examine how you are dealing with stress and make adjustments as needed. When you need to vent, find a safe place to do this.
- Recognize successes and achievements. Celebrate both individual and team successes. Have fun. Recognition and celebration ensure staff feels valued, strengthens morale and unites the team. Use simple but effective ways to recognize hard work and extra effort.
- Focus on your vision for the future. Sharing your vision of an energizing and compelling future will help get people through change. Without a clearly stated vision, employees experience change as a collection of activities or disconnected initiatives. A shared vision turns that into a cohesive effort, moving toward a purposeful future. BONUS: A clear vision also prevents leaders from making knee-jerk decisions or pursuing tangents that undermine where you most want to go.