Change With Your People, Not To Them
By: A Staff Writer
Updated on: Sep 02, 2024
Change With Your People, Not To Them
Whether it’s clients or your team, how you communicate change impacts whether they’ll embrace it, or dig their heels in.
We spring changes on people, then get frustrated when they’re upset. Empathy is key.
- “Why” matters more than “What”: Explain the rationale, the benefit to THEM, instead of just dictating the change.
- Timing is everything: Dropping major news during a busy season is a recipe for disaster. Be mindful of their capacity.
- Over-communicate, every step: Silence breeds anxiety. Progress updates, even small ones, build trust in the process.
- Get their input (where possible): Feeling heard lessens resistance, even if you don’t end up doing their suggestions
- Acknowledge the fear/discomfort: Trying to cheerlead people out of valid feelings will backfire. Empathy first.
- Celebrate wins along the way: Focus on the positive mid-change keeps morale up, less focus on what’s being left behind.
What’s the worst way a change has been rolled out to you (as an employee, customer, etc.)?
Do people feel comfortable asking you questions/voicing concerns? If not, what small shift could create more openness?