Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

One of the most difficult times a leader faces during the course of a career is dealing with change within an organization. According to a study by Garter, organizations have averaged five major companywide changes in the past three years, and surprisingly, not including changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Leaders will have to embrace a few techniques to ensure successful transitions for their teams.

Keep Communication Lines Open

While upper management is tasked with making difficult decisions for their organizations, staff members may feel like they are being overtly kept out of the loop, which hinders morale and can cause dissention and disengagement. To avoid this, over communicate. Utilize different types of communication, such as meetings, newsletters and updates. And, be sure to provide an avenue for employees to voice their questions or concerns.

Embrace Your Company Culture

The culture of your organization is comprised of the shared values and beliefs your staff and leadership hold. Focusing on and embracing these values will help your employees during potentially uncertain times.

Create a Transition Team

While there are professionals who have made a career leading third-party organizations through change, you don’t necessarily have to hire a transitional leader to successfully navigate such initiatives. However, it is important to have a team that focuses on the transition. Consider building a group inhouse to develop the timeframe, goals and needs of the company’s change. This transition team can include people from all aspects of the company. The more diverse the better.

By James C. Price, expresspros.com

Express Employment Professionals serves the River Parishes from its office in Gonzales. The company is a member of the River Region Chamber of Commerce and the LaPlace branch of Business 2 Business. For more information, visit expresspros.com.