As a leader, how do you implement meaningful change?
Change management for today is really about bouncing back. Leaders who are successful engage with their employees. I’ve written about this in recent posts.
To be sure, we’re facing unprecedented times as we pivot in the ways we do business. Many leaders are paving the way for others to follow. But, based on the conversations I am having with leaders, managers, and employees, there are lessons to be shared, and common mistakes that can be avoided.
Avoid Common Change Management Mistakes
- Communication is inefficient, often one-way.
- Plans are developed top down.
- Change is incongruent with organizational values and culture.
- Support and resources (emotional, physical, mental, spiritual) are inadequate.
- Negativity is not managed.
You don’t have to look far to see negativity today. Images and words are everywhere. While it is critical that we don’t ignore problems, we do need to understand and manage the impact of negativity.
You see, negativity has a greater effect on our well-being (our psychological state and processes) than positivity. As John Tierney and Roy F. Baumeister point out in their new book, The Power of Bad, “The negativity effect is a simple principle, with not-so-simple consequences. When we don’t appreciate the power of bad to warp our judgment, we make terrible decisions. Unrecognized (and unaddressed) the negativity effect can promote fear, phobias, tribalism, and resistance to meaningful change.”
In the organizations where I consult, great leaders manage negativity with a few key principles and techniques.
Manage Negativity to Implement Meaningful Change
- Recognize and acknowledge negativity: in the images you see, the words you hear, the tone you use. Consider alternatives, and refer to and/or share these through-out the day.
- Showcase good news: specific images, stories, and/or headlines of employees modeling desired behaviors and achieving positive result.
- For every proposed change, point out four things that will remain the same. These could refer to mission, values, purpose, policies, processes, places, people, etc.
Negativity narrows our focus to why something is wrong or won’t work. It prompts immediate, survival-oriented behaviors, including resistance to change. In contrast, a positive mindset broadens our perspective; we feel better, engage, learn more and expand our creativity and productivity.
What do you think? How do you implement meaningful change? I’d love to hear from you. I can be reached here, on LinkedIn, or give me a call: 561-582-6060.
