The_Essential_Manager_s_Handbook

68 / LEADING OTHERS

Managing careers

Individuals, managers, teams, and organizations that do not adapt

to change in timely ways are unlikely to survive in our increasingly

turbulent world environment. Managers that anticipate change, learn

to adapt to change, and manage change will be the most successful.

Overcoming resistance

Change is the process of moving from

a present state to a more desired state

in response to internal and external

factors. To successfully implement

change, you need to possess the skills to

convince others of the need for change,

identify gaps between the current

situation and desired conditions, and

create visions for desirable outcomes.

Experienced managers are aware

that efforts to change often face

resistance. This can be for a variety of

reasons, including fear, vested interests,

misunderstanding, lack of trust, differing

perceptions of a situation, and limited

resources. You need to be able to

counter this resistance to change

through education, participation,

and negotiation.

TURN TO THE POSITIVE

Try to use any resistance

to your proposed change

for your benefit, by making

it a stimulus for dialogue and

a deeper, more thoughtful

analysis of the alternatives.

Tip

Promoting change

Major change does not happen easily.

Effective managers are able to establish

a sense of urgency that the change is

needed. If an organization is obviously

facing a threat to its survival, this kind

of crisis usually gets people’s attention.

Dramatically declining profits and

stock prices are examples. In other

cases, when no current crisis

is obvious, but managers

have identified potential

US_068-069_Managing_Change.indd 68 30/05/16 3:01 pm