Managing change
Managing Purposeful Change
Why Managers Need to know How to Orchestrate change
Today, many people feel that they are dealing with about as much change as they can take, yet the pace of change in society is not slackening. If anything, the pace is increasing.
The management methods that have served us well in the past can work quite well in a stable situation. But these methods just don't 'cut it' when the organization is trying to implement lots of changes rapidly.
When change is rapid and frequent, it becomes impossible for a small cadre of managers to think and plan for everyone else. And in times of change, everyone is under a lot of stress -- emotions are run high, and many people feel burned out. So people issues become even more important to deal with than in times of stability.
The good news is that high performing organizations, because they are constantly adapting and striving for improvement, have developed highly effective ways of orchestrating change. They routinely use techniques to ensure that changes are well planned and that people are engaged in the process.
People cope better when they have access to information and are able to participate actively. Rather than becoming passive victims (or committed opponents) they can find out why the changes are necessary, take part in planning the process, and take ownership of some portions. They may even become enthusiastic about the changes, once they understand the reasons why and are allowed to take part.
When change is properly planned and executed, people have the opportunity to become part of the solution, not part of the problem.
Additional Resources
- Learn how to manage change -- browse David Hutton's best-selling book on this topic.
- How well is your organization coping with change? Try out our free online diagnostic.
- Register to obtain a free 3,000-word article: Managing Purposeful Change.