The only constant thing is change. And yet, it can be a challenge to navigate, let alone bracing for future change. Sustaining change and considering its future effects is critical for an interconnected workplace to thrive. By linking workforce, technology, and additional items of capital together, an interconnected system improves efficiency and accountability throughout an organization.
Why is the impact of change significant?
Change influences all aspects of business and its many functions. When the impact of change is positive, the shift can lead to higher team morale, engagement, and productivity. If the impact of change is negative, however, there is an increase in team anxiety, stress, and resistance. When change is not properly addressed and handled poorly, the impact can lead to massive turnover and debilitate an entire organization, i.e., The Great Resignation.
How do I implement effective change management systems?
Leaders must view change from a systemic approach. Sustaining change is made possible by leveraging resources: people, institutions, money, knowledge, or technology. To effectively run change management systems, leaders must pay special attention to the organization’s goals, develop a detailed plan to implement change, and provide adequate resources to carry out the change. The process requires communication and contingency plans for all the various outcomes that may arise.
Approval is also vital for effective change management systems. Accepting change is rooted in identity. Teams need to see their future selves in the outcomes of change. When change arrives, leaders must help staff feel like they were part of this significant and powerful shift. This can be done by celebrating organizational milestones throughout the evolution and constantly sharing updates, so teams are hyper-aligned with the vision.
How do we foresee the outcomes of change?
While we can’t predict the future, leaders have access to a decision-making tool that maps out the impact of change: The Futures Wheel.
The Futures Wheel is your organization’s crystal ball. It’s a resource that aids in exploring the direct and indirect impacts of a change or idea. Download our free Futures Wheel template to get started. This simple and practical resource is an excellent addition to any team’s decision-making toolbox. The process explores the impact on an organization years down the line. It also uncovers crucial considerations as teams forecast contrasting horizons. By examining the various effects of change, teams prepare and better respond to a broader range of possible results.
Organizational outcomes are the collective result of individual change. Therefore, every team member needs a concerted effort to create sustainable change. As you approach change within your organization, create a program that provides a support system that earns employee trust and respect.
Douglas Ferguson | President, Voltage Control
