Every day something changes in our lives, be it personal or professional. As leaders, we need to ask ourselves:
1. How well do I manage change: As an individual? As a leader?
2. What is the secret to managing change?
The bottom line is that the most successful people manage change effectively by managing their mindset. Although you can’t control everything, you can control your mindset.
Without change, there is no innovation, creativity or incentive for improvement. Change is inevitable.
There are four main categories to look at in the change puzzle:
1. Life Changes
The world keeps moving on. Improvement makes life better. However, sometimes life changes can throw you a curveball!
You’ve always got to manage your mindset. Be willing to ask for help. Reframe your perspective. Focus on the future and look for positives. Life is ever-changing. It’s better to accept it and positively approach the future.
2. Individual Changes
Ask yourself—How well do I personally handle change? Here are a few statistics regarding the general population’s feeling about change. Where are you on this scale?
- Negative: 30 percent are resistant to change
- Indifferent: 50 percent don’t have a strong feeling either way
- Positive: 20 percent embrace change
People have their reasons for feeling the way they do. Here are a few thoughts to consider when facing a person who is negative and resistant to change. They may be experiencing or thinking any of the following.
- Loss of control
- Excess uncertainty
- Unwelcome feelings of surprise
- Things seems different
- Loss of face
- Concerns about competence
- More work
- Ripple effects
- Past memories
- Resentment
Indifference can frequently be the biggest challenge to deal with because this group feels no action is required at all for a different set of reasons:
1. Based on a belief that ‘this too shall pass,’ it is just another attempt to change what will inevitably remain the same anyway.
2. Individual doesn’t believe change requires anything on their part.
3. May feel that it just does not apply to them.
Positive attitudes about change can create a whole new perspective. Embracing change can be a beautiful thing! Time has proven out that the most successful embrace change with a positive, solution-oriented mindset that focuses on possibilities.
3. Leadership Changes
How do we best lead others through change? There are some specific strategies you can take to ensure your team is moving together in the right direction to make a smoother transition. For example, have open and transparent communications, be available and have effective meetings.
First, you need clarity. Define where you are going by sharing the vision with everyone. Understand and communicate the “why” about the changes that are coming. Let everyone know how all stakeholders can win with these changes. Explain how the vision is different, better, more compelling now than before. Ask your team questions/have them ask you questions to make sure they understand the rationale.
Then be prepared to manage organizational resistance. Phrase your communications to be more on the human side because people matter more than plans and processes. Understand the organization’s culture and be prepared to overcome objections that will arise. Predict what the outcome will be from these changes to avoid surprises and tackle uncertainty about the future. Speak to the individual when explaining expectations, measurements of success and what success really means.
Be an Influential leader, one who can instill hope for the future. Hope brings several major benefits to a culture. It renews faith, builds confidence, promotes empowerment with clarity, helps increase productivity and instills teamwork.
4. Organizational Changes
What’s your organizational culture? Does it foster change and working as a High Performing Team? Let’s do a quick exam of a culture that fosters a High Performing Team by incorporating changes into the DNA of an enterprise while driving operating results.
High-Performing Teams are successful at incorporating changes. They do this by using three strong concepts within their leadership behaviors. Accountability is one essential element, where you do what you say you are going to do, by the deadline or before. Communication is the second essential element, whereby you have a plan and communicate it, repeatedly. Turn the unknowns into knowns for your team. Trust is the third essential element, where leadership consistently follows through on promises and commitments.
Organizations thrive when change is a part of their cultural DNA. Life is ever changing…it’s better to accept it. Always cast a clear vision with hope for the future. Be in the right camp and embrace change.
Remember—get your head on straight. Manage your mind. Mindset matters!
Tony Jeary—The RESULTS Guy™—is a prolific author and a strategist. His organization, TJI, facilitates powerful meetings, keynote events and coaches high performers to accelerate their results.
From the November 2021 issue of Direct Selling News magazine.
