Leadership Success - How to Get Employees to Accept Change

When you or your organization needs to make ain place and change management is part of the
change, you need it to work - now. But you can'tcorporate culture, the organization is agile and
steamroll your employees into accepting it. Here's howautomatic in its response to new processes and
to walk the fine line between short-term efficiency andprocedures and whatever else comes along, from
long-term change management.economic downturns to the opposite, sudden success.
Whether you are the initiator or implementer of what's2. Own Commitment to the Change. Leaders must
to come, it's crucial that you, as a leader, understandfully understand and commit to the new plan before
the change cycle. You must learn how to manage iteffecting the implementation. Be solid in your
and overcome the key obstacle to the success ofunderstanding of the benefits and obstacles before
your impending transition: time.communicating it. Have a vision of success and devise
The biggest mistake managers make is not allowingways to measure success.
enough time for adjustment, at all levels of the3. Ongoing Communication About the Issue. Keep
organization.communication channels open throughout the process.
Leaders who are involved in making the decision haveCommunicating is not a one-time event. Ideally, the
had time to ask questions and understand thepeople who are impacted will be consulted prior to
reasoning, to buy in, and have begun adjusting.decisions, to ensure the greatest chance of buy-in. In
In communicating down the line, time must be allottedcases where consultation is not appropriate or
for other individuals to come full cycle as well: to movepossible, however, you can ensure there is open
through the fears, doubts and resistance that inevitablycommunication to explain the change fully, solicit
arise; to come to the point where they understand the"me-issues", and address concerns. Understand that
change; to accept it; and only then can they beindividuals will vary in the amount of time and in the
productive within it.extent of communication that they need to adjust.
3 Keys to Effective Change.For sustainable change, clear and constant
1. Having a Change Management Process. The mostcommunication and continual relationship building are
dynamic and adaptable organizations recognize thatcrucial to alleviate the fears, doubts and resistance that
revisions and renewal are constant. Numerous modelssurface.
exist to manage the process. When such supports are