Managing change effectively

People react to change in seven predictable ways; if all businesses strive to learn and understand these seven phases then they will have happier and more productive teams.

In the first phase, people generally tend to feel intimidated and self-conscious. In this phase it is important for management to explain what can be expected, so that they are not surprised or put out in any way.

In the second phase most people focus on what they have to give up. Here management need to legitimise the losses with their staff and allow them to “mourn” these losses.

During phase three most people feel alone, albeit that everyone is going through the same changes. Management need to encourage their staff to share ideas and to help each other through the change.

Help set priorities

Around the time stage four is reached most people are at a point where they can no longer handle any additional change. At this time, management should break down the changes into smaller tasks and help their employees to set priorities.

On to phase five, management will notice that their staff is at different levels of readiness for the change. It is important to recognise that some members of the staff are risk takers while others may take longer to adjust.

In phase six, people may become more concerned that they do not have the correct resources for change, for example time, money and skills etc. Management should encourage staff members to find creative solutions to their problems.

At the advent of the final phase, you need to ensure that the pressures related to the change continue to be enforced otherwise most people will revert back to their original behavior. Management need to ensure that they maintain focus and manage the journey constructively.

“I have always found this to be one of my interesting workshops as it is an issue that will continue to affect people. In general people do not like change and we make every attempt possible to resist it. It is so important that once change happens we embrace it and look for the opportunities that are a result of it,” smiles Mulvey.

Mulvey will be holding Change Management Breakfast Workshops throughout July 2007 on the following dates:

Durban Country Club: 19 July

Johannesburg Bailiwick Manor, Ferndale: 18 July
Cape Town Belmont Convention Centre Rondebosch: 19 July

Port Elizabeth Kelway Hotel: 25 July

For more information, go to www.richardmulvey.com.