How to manage change
Change is inevitable but it can be unsettling.
Read our top tips to how to navigate change in the workplace and build your resilience.
Change is the only constant, or so the saying goes. In the workplace, we see huge amounts of change as businesses try to navigate external factors influencing their industry such as recessions, technological advances, and regulations. Change for some can be exciting and energising but for a lot of us it can be very unsettling and requires a lot of resilience to be able to navigate.
Some companies manage change really well, and keep their employees at the heart of what they do. However this is not the case everywhere, so building your own resilience and having a toolkit to draw on can be really beneficial to help you.
Why change is a positive thing
We often work in companies or industries which are really fast pace, and in today’s market companies are needing to evolve quicker than ever to ensure they remain relevant and financially viable.
Change in the workplace can actually be a positive thing, for example, introducing new technology could make your role much easier or some tasks quicker to complete, making more time available for more creative or engaging projects. Or when a company is restructuring this can be a very scary time as we worry about what this might mean for our role, however if we can reframe this to think about what new opportunities might be created we can be more accepting and welcoming of the changes to come.
Consider the alternative, where you are working for a company where change is really slow or your managers are reluctant to consider doing things differently or approaching a task in a different way - this can become incredibly frustrating and risks teams and businesses falling behind their competitors and potentially failing.
Here are our tips for navigating change:
Get involved
Instead of waiting to hear what change is coming and how you might be impacted by it, find a way to get involved. Depending on the type of change, companies will often look for individuals or teams to help, this could involve being part of a focus group sharing thoughts or opinions, prototyping or testing new technology, or designing new processes. By getting involved in what's happening, you will potentially have the opportunity to shape the change, but also be some of the first people to understand the changes which are coming.
2. Spot the opportunities
Be proactive. You’re often in the best position to see what changes could be made in your role, your team or your company, as you’re on the frontline day to day. Perhaps you are aware of new software or technology which other people in your role or industry are using, so why not demonstrate this to your manager, show your willingness to try new things and do things differently. Even if they take forward your suggestion, they will remember your proactivity in making suggestions on trying something new.
3. Don’t speculate
Sometimes there are sensitive changes that businesses have to make, including redundancies or relocations. In these situations, there are often lots of rumours which begin to circulate as news filters through the company. Often this information isn’t always accurate or correct. In these circumstances, talk to your manager or leaders, they will share the information they can, and will be able to feedback to others if the communication plans are not working. But try not to add to the rumours by engaging in gossip or speculation.
4. Adopt a growth mindset
Accepting that change is inevitable and acknowledging your own feelings about this can be an important step in helping you to then positively frame changes as they arise. A growth mindset means that you are able to keep focused on trying to make the most of the opportunities and using them to build your skills or experience. Try not to personalise the situation, when change is being implemented it is rarely targeted at an individual employee but a more strategic decisions being made by a business
5. Ask questions
Asking thoughtful and probing questions demonstrates your curiosity to understand more about the changes which are coming. Your questions may help others to consider different perspectives, and provide valuable feedback to those who are making the changes. And finally, when faced with changes which may be more challenging to you personally, take your time, acknowledge your feelings, consider what questions you have or what information you may need and use those around you for support.