Change is inevitable. Managing change in the workplace is an everyday responsibility for business owners and managers. Show
Often, change is predictable or planned well in advance, such as:
These are all evolutions in a business for which you usually have ample time to prepare and get your employees on board. But what about the changes you don’t see coming? What about those times when you are caught completely by surprise – and not at all in a good way? How can you anticipate the unknown? How can you fix these types of problems and, better yet, protect yourself against them in the first place? As challenging as it can be to prepare for the what if, the cost of not doing so can be high. Without a plan for managing unexpected change in your workplace, crises can turn into catastrophe. The results can be dire:
Change may be inevitable, but the damage inflicted by unexpected events doesn’t have to be. General tips for managing change in the workplaceChange can be distressing for any worker. That’s especially so when it’s abrupt and unexpected. You can lessen the pain planning ahead. 1. Acknowledge the change curve.For business owners and managers, the change curve is beneficial to understanding the emotions commonly experienced when processing sudden changes. It’s important for everyone at your company to acknowledge their feelings so they can then move forward through each phase of the change curve and reach acceptance as soon as possible. It’s OK and natural for people to resist change initially, and they should not feel guilty or be penalized for it. 2. Perform a SWOT analysis.Continually engage in a SWOT analysis of your business. SWOT means:
You’ll want to work on all four areas, including weaknesses and potential threats in your analysis, because it’s in these categories that unexpected changes typically originate and can spin out of control. Weaknesses tend to be internal issues, while threats are derived from external sources. Your goal is to identify where your business is most vulnerable, and how you can best address those vulnerabilities. As you ponder potential scenarios, consider how likely each event is to happen and develop effective response strategies, so you aren’t blindsided when unexpected event hits. 3. Plan your communications and first steps.Of course, it’s difficult to prepare for an event that hasn’t happened yet and when you’re not entirely sure what that event could look like. But that’s no excuse to not plan, on a broad level, what your response could be to a variety of unexpected changes. Here’s how:
What are some examples of what you could be up against? Common scenarios of unexpected change and ideas to prepare for themOffice damage (natural disasters and vandalism)Unfortunately, we can’t control the weather or absolutely prevent criminal activity. And when events such as fire, flood, tornado, hail or some form of vandalism happen, the damage left behind and the ensuing chaos can bring your business to a screeching halt. Before disaster ever strikes, you need to have established a disaster-readiness plan that addresses critical points:
This damage can be financially crippling if you’re not prepared. That’s why you should also have property insurance so you can rebuild your office space with minimal financial stress and disruption to regular operations. A “business interruption” add-on to your insurance policy can even reimburse you for lost income related to property damage. It could be the difference between staying in business or bankruptcy. Loss of critical personnelHas another company – worse yet, a competitor – ever wooed away one of your most valued team members with an exciting promotion, higher salary or better benefits package? Have any of your employees – including senior-level leadership – had a sudden family or medical emergency and had to take an extended leave? If it hasn’t happened yet, it’s a question of when, not if. Here’s how you can minimize the sting of unexpectedly losing a valued person on your team and ensure that your business continues functioning normally:
Loss of key clientLosing a valued employee is easily matched by a major client severing business ties – especially when it’s to work with a competitor. Here’s how you can prevent this:
If you become complacent with your existing client roster, you’ll be in trouble when change inevitably happens. Always be on the lookout for new opportunities so the financial health of your business isn’t dependent on a few clients. Data breach or cybersecurity issueIt’s an increasingly common dilemma for businesses. How do you protect the data of employees and customers, as well as safeguard valuable intellectual property? Think of all the sensitive information your business has:
If this sensitive information fell into the wrong hands it can be devastating for all parties. It can put you at risk for financial losses and expose your business to significant liability. You need to build a data protection policy to prevent these scenarios from happening at all, but also to serve as a guide on what to do should a data breach occur. Also, consider hiring an IT consultant who can assess your systems and, if necessary, enhance your security barriers and protocols. You can also secure cyber liability insurance in the event you are sued, penalized or lose business. Workplace violenceWhether it’s physical assault, verbal abuse, armed robbery or the dreaded, news-dominating active shootings, workplace safety should be top of mind. After all, no public place is immune from these dangers. Conduct a safety assessment of your office and take necessary steps to ensure that your workplace is as safe as possible. Then establish a plan for how your business will recover and how you will communicate with your employees and customers if the unthinkable happens. Change in laws or regulationsDifficult though it may be to keep up, governments have the power to completely upend how you do business. Legislative or regulatory changes really shouldn’t be a surprise because they’re usually months in the making. But if you’re busy running a business, it can be challenging to maintain awareness about in-progress legislation in the U.S. Congress or in your state legislature. This task becomes even more complex and time-consuming if you do business in multiple cities or states. In this ever-changing landscape, how can you become educated about potential laws in the works and remain in compliance? Try to stay well-versed in the latest employment and labor laws and regulations impacting your business. Depending on the type of business you have, you may want to also consider hiring a lobbying firm to advocate on your behalf for favorable legislative outcomes. Summing it all upThere are an endless number of unforeseen hazards that could impact your business. While it’s impossible to plan for every scenario, there are steps you can and should take to lessen the impact of sudden change. If you’d like more information on how managing unexpected change in the workplace, download our complimentary magazine: The Insperity guide to managing change. What is the impact of change on employees?According to one study, workers experiencing a recent change were more than two times as likely to report feeling chronic stress than those who had no current or anticipated changes on the horizon. They were also four times as likely to experience physical stress symptoms while at work.
What are the techniques used to overcome resistance to change?The first strategy to overcome resistance to change is to communicate. Communication is key — you already knew that. However, try letting your employees initiate the conversation. People want to be heard, and giving them a chance to voice their opinions will help alleviate the frustration they feel over the situation.
How can you reduce employee resistance to change?6 tips to minimize resistance to change. Communicate early and often. Let employees know about changes to the status quo as soon as possible. ... . Listen to employees. ... . Educate employees on the value of the change. ... . Name emotions. ... . Timing is everything. ... . Provide ongoing support.. |