Change Management: Avoid Havoc In Very Uncertain Times
Escalating gas prices...tensions and turmoil in the Middle East...a struggling world economy. Leadership, in times of uncertainty, is not that much different from that of 'normal' times. What does differ is the degree to which basic tactics of change management are applied. In times of uncertainty, leaders must pay even more attention to the people issues in change. Here are five ways to avoid leadership havoc.
Get off of autopilot.
Examine your organization's strategy. With your leadership team confirm or revise your current strategy or mission. Should it change as a result of what is going on in the environment? Should it change as a result of what is going on with customers or competitors? Should you continue going in the same direction - swerve to the right or left - or take a totally new path? Don't overreact but don't sit still waiting for 'it' to pass.
Manage and multiple the impact.
During uncertain times, employees are inundated with stories of downsizing, pay reductions, etc. There's no one perfect way to communicate change. Some organizations make an enormous mistake in using only 'low touch' methods such as newsletters or the company intranet site. But 'high touch' - face-to-face encounters- is vital. One manager puts it this way: "It's important to get eyeball to eyeball - to see and react to your people." Effective communication is inclusive, candid, and decidedly two-way.
Identify your key players and re-recruit them.
Who are the most important people in your organization or team? Be aware they can be at all levels, not just the top. Meet with this them on a regular basis to monitor what is going on. Seek their input, clarify specific performance goals, give them the resources they need, let them go, and reward them in whatever way you can for results. Don't lose them or their commitment.
Get out of your ivory tower - pay attention to frontline action.
Related to the earlier point about refining existing strategies, it becomes critical to ensure that these strategies are turned into frontline action plans. Changing goals and performance outcomes must be translated so that people understand them, buy into them, and are motivated by them. This is the time to power up your people engine.
Build and maintain stretch alliances.
During uncertain times it is more important than ever to maintain strong relations with the senior leadership and with other key managers. It 's also a good time to strengthen external relationships with others such as suppliers, vendors, selected customer groups, and perhaps even other organizations in a similar "business" as you.
Change creates uncertainty for employees, customers, and suppliers. If you follow these five change management techniques you will more likely maintain productivity, retain key employees and stay sane in a world that doesn't stop changing.
Marcia Zidle, the 'people smarts' coach, works with business leaders to quickly solve their people management headaches so they can concentrate on their #1 job to grow and increase profits. She offers free help through Leadership Briefing, a weekly e-newsletter with practical tips on leadership style, employee motivation, recruitment and retention and relationship management. Subscribe by going to http://leadershiphooks.com/ and get the bonus report "61 Leadership Time Savers and Life Savers". Marcia is the author of the What Really Works Handbooks resources for managers on the front line and the Power-by-the-Hour programs fast, convenient, real life, affordable courses for leadership and staff development. She is available for media interviews, conference presentations and panel discussions on the hottest issues affecting the workplace today. Contact Marcia at 800-971-7619.
Latest News
Lehman Deal Spins Off Part of Private Equity Unit Into Independent ... New York Times, United States - Under the deal, the private equity firm’s current management, led by Charles Ayres, will purchase the firm’s most recent fund — a $3.3 billion pool of ... Lehman Said to Weigh Sale of Merchant-Banking Fund to Managers Lehman deal on private equity close: source Lehman to spin out private equity arm: WSJ |
Reuters | Banks Pare Fed Loans After Increase for Year-End Cash Bloomberg - BlackRock Inc., Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Pacific Investment Management Co. and Wellington Management Co. are managing the purchases. ... US banks rely slightly less on Fed cash Banks borrow more, investment firms less from Fed Commercial Paper Market Rises to Most Since September |
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![]() News Channel 7 | Walgreen will cut 1000 management jobs in 2009 The Associated Press - NEW YORK (AP) — Drugstore operator Walgreen Co. said Thursday it will cut 1000 jobs by mid-year, or about 9 percent of corporate management, through a ... Walgreen to cut about 1000 corporate and field management jobs Walgreens Announces Reduction in Corporate and Field Management ... Walgreens to cut 1000 salaried posts |
Z-Wave Alliance Showcases Brand-New Energy Management, Home ... MSNBC - Alliance member companies will showcase for the first time new, affordable energy management, home security and home control solutions in the Alliance booth ... |
Uptown men's shelter will stay open under new management Chicago Tribune, United States - Johnson declined to elaborate on the funding and management changes, but said, "We are very satisfied with the outcome of what has happened. ... |
Brookfield Asset Management 2008 Year End Conference Call ... MSNBC - You are invited to participate in Brookfield Asset Management's 2008 Year End Conference Call & Webcast on Friday, February 13, 2009 at 11:00 am (ET) to ... Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP 2008 Year End Conference ... |
Gary Berntsen Thinks CIA Needs 'Leadership Not Management' FOXNews - CIA COVERT OFFICER : Actually, we need leadership, not management at CIA. That person who's going to be in charge of CIA is in charge of our fight, ... Video: Analyst Weighs in on Obama's CIA Pick Obama's intel picks short on direct experience Obama Is Under Fire Over Panetta Selection |
![]() Sydney Morning Herald | Microsoft Touts Power Management in Windows 7 Redmond Channel Partner, CA - Improved power management got briefly mentioned among the expected benefits of Windows 7 on Wednesday at the Consumer Electronics Show. ... Hacking Windows 7 beta problems Microsoft releases Windows Server 2008 R2 beta Windows 7 Server Beta – Exclusively 64-bit to Support 256 Logical ... |
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