Change is simply on the agenda of any company (and of any employee, no matter at which level): a new project, a reorganization, a change in the team leadership or a new software being implemented… it’s actually making no difference. Each day we are confronted with change.
I guess mostly 
because of my private life experiences (and the fact that I am just an optimist) I believe any change in an opportunity. This does not necessarily mean that I am over the moon any time something new starts: at times – luckily rarely – I simply feel tired or low in energy to start packing for another move to a different country or thinking of an effective team building exercise which could help new team members to integrate at best and quickly. Those are the moments when I step back and re-visit what are the best strategies for me to manage change.
Here some suggestions that work well for me.
…when I am leading the change: family or work, it is irrelevant. There are times where I am in charge and I am the one who has to drive a team through change. Here is how I try my best:
- Be present, be there: I make sure to be reachable as much as possible and available to listen. Sometimes that is just what it takes: be visible, show the team (or family or friends) that I am there to listen and answer any questions. This does not mean I always have all answers. However, as long as I am honest and state clearly what I can share, it helps them as well as myself to better understand the change and what role each will plays.
- Be a role model, see and focus on the positives: I cannot help it, I just think there is something good (or at least interesting) in any change – even if it is “only” getting to know new people. I like to think that any time my main task is to make the children curious: they feel like small pirates questing for a tresure.
- Stay calm and focused: generally there is no reason to panic: in most cases changes do not represent a sudden life threat. The best way I found to manage through change is simply to stay focused on delivering a defined goal, a step at a time. Do not try to eat an elephant at once – rather look at the next immediate step that will take you closer to the goal you are going for. I love to do lists and project plans: they give me the impression to see the full path in front of me in a structured sequence, and still broken down into pieces I can manage one by one.
- Keep the info flowing: I never stop communicating, and if there is nothing new to say, just mention it. I see that this works well in the family too! The rule is that everyone can ask any questions at any time time and as often as they want (honestly: it gets slightly irritating at times), when we go through a change: about the city, the house we will move to, the school,… the deal is that we will answer at the best of the knowledge. They know we will not lie, and accept that – at times – we will not have all answers.
…when I am part of a team going through change:
- Be professional, stay focused: as it is known that a change will come, one can choose whether to go with the wave or resist it, however the change will come, whether we like it or not. And then we can choose: keep on working towards our goals and stay professional OR get drifted away.
- Ask questions: I think the best I can do to prepare is to capture as much REAL information as possible. I do not give in to rumors, I prefer to ask questions to the team lead. About any aspects of the change – in a project, questions may cover the timing, the team members, roles and responsibilities… anything that can help me understand what is going on a little more: however it is key to accept that not everything will be clear initially and there will be some unclarity at start of a project; things will get clearer and clearer at each step.
- Accept the change – there is always something in for you. The best I think I can do at time of change, is just to look out for opportunities in the new set up: in essence I try to prepare for the change. The alternative is to resist change and give myself a hard time, as the change will come anyhow.
- Do not give in to rumors, trust your leader: I accept that the leader of a team may not have (or can share) all details related to a new situation. In a project the project manager may not be able to share the detailed scope initially, as it is not clear yet. The key element is trust – I need to trust that the project manager will share the details as soon as possible, not hidding anything for the sake of it.
Did you go throught any change? What is your best suggestion to succesfully survive change as a leader or part of a team?
Photo: Flickr/ Adam, “Moving House”.
