In the news, Inside Track, April 2010
Feeling the strain of change fatigue?
With election choices looming, we find ourselves face to face with more promises of ‘change’. Perhaps the most over used word in political campaigns we find ourselves asking: ‘What will be different this time?’ Slogans seem tired and little seems genuinely new. Faced with this we sometimes struggle to know what to believe, what to follow and what to get excited about.
The same is true in organisations. Change programmes and business transformation projects are common place. Often there is genuine work to be done, objectives are sound and the organisation would benefit from moving in the planned direction. However, for employees the latest change programme may be one in a long line of change initiatives and they can struggle to maintain any enthusiasm or focus.
What can organisations do to make this change programme relevant and achievable?
Employees need to answer ‘yes’ to the following questions: “do I get it?”, “do I like it?”, and “do I trust the people who are leading it?” Messages need to be clear, simple and repeated; employees need to see the benefit for them personally in the changes proposed, and leaders need to act in ways that engender trust and confidence. I’d vote for that.
