The statement ‘the only constant is change’ nicely illustrates how life, and everything in it, is subject to continuous change and transformation. And right now, we’re living through the fastest period of change in human history. It’s affecting almost all organisations, by changing what they do, and how they do it through new ways of working. This means, to be an effective leader, you need to be confident leading your team through change.
Behind every change, there will be a belief that when it happens, the change will deliver some sort of benefit. Things like:
But any benefits of a change can only be realised if those being impacted by it, such as you and your team, choose to embrace the change. In most cases where change fails, not enough focus has been put on making sure changes are adopted and embedded. This is why as a leader, you need to champion the change and set an example for others to follow.
When you’re facing a change, you may wonder what you can do to get your team to embrace it. Well, it’s important to recognise that change is fundamentally about the human experience. It’s about how people feel leading up to and during the change. If the experience is positive, it’s far more likely that the benefits of the change will be seen. And it also means people are more likely to embrace the next change, which probably won’t be far away.
So, how do good leaders of change create this positive experience?
While it can be tempting to delay these conversations, good leaders have learnt that if you wait until the last minute to discuss the change, your teams’ anxieties, fears and frustrations will only get bigger.
If you’re not sure where to start, or are struggling through a current change journey, use the Embracing Change action pack to introduce and embed the regular conversations, routines, and practices you’ll need to help build your confidence to lead and your team’s ability to adapt to change.
Embracing change is not just about coping with the inevitable; it's about embracing a mindset that unlocks personal growth, adaptability, resilience, and success. By effectively leading and embedding change in your team, you can achieve better results and build a resilient team capable of embracing future changes.