Your Business – May 01, 2018

HUMAN RESOURSES

Out with the old, in with the new

Change management tips to keep things running smoothly in your business...

Terine Lott-Cupido

The marketplace is changing at a

rapid pace. Businesses are required to

continuously evolve, in order to outwit the

competition. Each function and process

should thus be carefully evaluated to see

how it can be improved to contribute

to both internal and external customer

satisfaction -the long-term survival of

your business depends on it. Adopting

a pragmatic approach to implementing

change is key. Here are some tips to help

you get started:

▪^ Understand the change

agenda

Stakeholders, such as investors and

employees, need to understand the reason

why the change is being implemented. The

need for change must be clearly articulated

in order to assist with creating a shared

vision. Use the following questions to

guide you:

What process must change?

Why is it important? Here it is important

to state the facts and the benefits of the

change must also be highlighted.

How will the change affect the

stakeholders and how will it be

implemented?

When will the change be implemented?

▪^ Get Top Management buy-in

Your top management staff must be

committed to the change initiative. Leaders

of the business must lead by example

through their actions.

▪^ Identify change champions

Change champions are employees that

assist in communicating and implementing

Terine Lott-Cupido is the Managing

Director at EmpowerLink Services, a

Human Resources consulting company,

focused on providing HR solutions to

small business. For more information

visit http://www.empowerlinkservices.co.za.

the change effort. They must be identified

and involved in bringing about the

change from the onset. It is important to

establish their buy-in before the actual

implementation of the change initiative.

▪^ Policies and Procedures

Policies and procedures must be reviewed

and aligned to ensure that the change

initiative is incorporated and embedded

within the procedures of the business.

Using the previous example, once the

change champions are identified, ensure

that the induction procedures are updated

where applicable. Thereafter train the

relevant staff on how to apply the updated

policies and procedures.

▪^ Develop a communication

strategy

A communication strategy details how

staff and key role players will be informed

of the change initiative. There should

be formal communication at different

phases of the change initiative; prior to the

implementation, during the implementation

and post implementation phase of the

change initiative. Using different forms of

communication can also help reinforce the

change initiative and assist with addressing

misinformation and resistance to change.

For example, having a team briefing and

then posting a written notice detailing the

key points discussed.

▪^ Participation

All the experts on change management

strongly recommend involvement. For

example, sharing the need for the change,

the benefits and asking staff for their input

on how they believe the change can be

implemented. This should be done prior to

the change being implemented and staff

should be given sufficient time to give

their input.

Manage resistance to change

There will always be some form of

resistance to change, for a variety of

reasons. Whether it is due to the fear of

change or simply because your employees

are in a comfort zone; it needs to be

addressed. Tips could be for example,

firstly to adopt a positive approach despite

resistance and negativity, listen to reasons

for resistance, reiterate the shared vision,

assist with training, and use their feedback

to further improve the change initiative

and also to promote involvement.

▪^ Trial

Trial the change initiative for a period of

time, and then ask for feedback from the

various parties involved. Do your best to

incorporate this feedback, in so much as it

falls in lines with your business's policies

and procedures.

Change is at the heart of meeting your

evolving customer expectations. Your

business' ability to adapt and align your

product and service offering to the

changing expectations of your clients, is

key to facilitating your business survival

in the long run. Good luck with your

change efforts.