 |
| Hiding in my hoodie |
Recently I got a bad haircut.
It happens.
In the scheme of things, it was nothing to be upset about.
But I was upset.
Here's why:
- It wasn't what I asked for.
- It took twice as long to style.
- Even when I put in the time and effort, it just didn't look right.
I got discouraged and hid in hats, hoods, and headbands.
Oddly, my little bad-haircut experience parallels what many feel as they traverse big corporate change: negative emotions, resistance and frustration.
Changes such as implementing a new software system, navigating the on/off cycle of working from home, or adapting to new leadership can increase employee angst while reducing employee engagement. Neither of which is good for the employee nor the business.
And similar to my bad haircut reaction, employees can struggle because:
- They didn't ask for the change.
- The learning curve involved with the change makes things harder.
- With as much effort as they put in, the results aren't immediately visible.
And still, thriving individuals, departments and organizations rely on managing change successfully.
If you are leading corporate change, help your employees embrace it.
- Let them know change is coming. No surprises! Give them a long runway so they can ask questions, make adjustments and shift their mindset. This is particularly important for people who are motivated by stability and security.
- Get them involved. Query them about their concerns. Ask for their input.
- Acknowledge the learning curve. Turn up the empathy. Allow them to be comfortable with discomfort. Explore the stages of change and highlight milestones and deliverables. Pair them with a peer learning partner— someone they can lean on and learn from.
- Define and determine what's in it for them (WIIFT). Clearly explain how they will benefit from the change and how the organization will. Better yet, ask them how they think they will benefit.
Back to the bad haircut...
I guess it's not as bad as I thought. I don't love it, but I am used to it. I've learned how to make it not-so-awful, and I even got a compliment the other day.
Now I can be upset about things that really matter. 😳