Five Ways to Help Employees Cope With Change
Mergers, layoffs, restructuring and new leadership are just a few of the
changes that can greatly affect employees. As a manager and leader, you are
challenged to maintain performance and help your staff cope with the changes
by communicating with and educating them. Here are five ways to accomplish
that:
- Avoid surprises. Too often, companies present a change as a series of
surprises. People's first response to anything that is a total surprise is
resistance.
- Prepare your employees. Let them know what is going to happen. Provide as
much information as they need and want as early as possible.
- Talk to people face to face. A memo or newsletter is not the most
effective way to inform people about important changes. Written
announcements don't allow people to exchange feelings.
- Tell people the truth. How do you see the change affecting individual
employees and the work group as a whole? Change always brings loss and
threatens security. Don't deny that.
- Express your feelings. People want to know your reactions. They will feel
understood and will be more open if your feelings are expressed.
Self-disclosure from a leader is a powerful strategy because you often
reflect what they are feeling.
