Gina Temple on Managing Change in Organizations
Understanding effective change management is an important factor in the success of implementing new policies and processes. It allows you to predict risks, offers solutions to them, and helps you meet your goals. Though each transitional process is different in scope and details, below are common steps you can take to manage organizational change effectively.
Like most processes, managing change becomes a lot easier when you know what your intended end goal is and what steps you must take to achieve it. Start by researching methods that have worked for other businesses and determining which, if any, best meets the demands of both your organizational structure and desired endpoint.
Explain in detail each step that your organization must take to reach that point in the most effective way possible. Knowing the specifics of what changes you need to make not only allows you to see what the future of your project looks like but it also helps you set realistic timetables and budgets.
Start at the top.
Before change can occur, it needs to be understood clearly and embraced by executives and managers who make day-to-day decisions. Executives should also set the tone of the change process. A passion for change within executives and managers can extend to those they manage, allowing positivity to cascade from one tier down to the next.
Set clear goals
Though some employees may be resistant to change, much of that resistance stems from not knowing what to expect, says Gina Temple. Clearly stating change management goals at the outset assures your team that they can know what is coming and how it might affect them.
Show empathy
Some employees may need some help embracing change. A good way to inspire an eagerness for new policies and processes is to show them that you understand what they’re going through. Lead by example, notes Gina Temple. Employees must see the ways the change is also affecting executives and managers and the methods they are using to handle it.
Give your employees a voice.
Your employees will have opinions about the changes to your business. Build this into your process by providing them with outlets where their voice can be heard.
Develop an effective training program.
The best way to ensure your organizational changes are implemented effectively is by educating your employees on their role within these new methods and processes. It starts with making sure managers fully understand the new processes and can effectively communicate them to those working below them. Roll out training programs early enough that your employees understand what is expected of them well before the changes take place.
Track and evaluate the change
Keep track of the effects of the transition process on your business. Stay specific and detailed so you can identify what parts are working and which aren’t. This way, you can make adjustments when needed to ensure the transition goes smoothly.
Gina Temple has served in the healthcare community for over 30 years with experiences ranging from for-profit to not-for-profit organizations, unionized to non-unionized facilities, and acute care settings to outpatient centers. Read more of her insights on healthcare and leadership by subscribing to this page.
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