Leading through change

Despite its award-worthy performances, the Bob Dylan biopic (A Complete Unknown) failed to land any Academy Awards at this year’s Oscars ceremony. Nevertheless, let’s recall Bob’s iconic song “The Times They Are A-Changin'” today, as it has resonated with generations for a message that holds true far beyond the political and societal changes of the 1960s.

Organizations are facing more change initiatives, at an even faster rate, than ever before. How are you managing to navigate this in the workplace?

Here are a few strategies (with a Bob Dylan flavor, of course) to consider when faced with today’s inevitable change at work:

• Embrace a change mindset: Dylan sings, “You better start swimmin’ or you’ll sink like a stone.” Support a company culture of resilience, flexibility, continuous learning and adaptation in order to succeed.
• Communicate, communicate, communicate: “Come gather ’round people, wherever you roam, and admit that the waters around you have grown.” Transparency, honesty, and acknowledgment of the unknowns and what is in flux establish. Those that feel informed, supported, and understand the reasoning behind change feel the most engaged and motivated to grow collectively.
• Be proactive: “Don’t stand in the doorway, don’t block up the hall.” Those that take initiative, rather than sit on their hands, thrive during periods of change. Take advantage of opportunities to be forward thinking!
• Involve cross-functional teams in planning: “Come writers and critics who prophesize with your pen, And keep your eyes wide, the chance won’t come again.” Even with top-down directives, incorporating individual perspectives from the impacted teams drive greater adoption, increase success, and sustain the proposed changes.
• Incorporate metrics for continuous review and improvement: “As the present now will later be past, the order is rapidly fadin’, and the first one now will later be last.” Establish benchmarks and routinely assess success metrics during and post-implementation of changes. Ground perspectives with relevant data and adjust planning accordingly. Tangible outcomes require rigor and review.

In today’s fast-paced world, we can agree “the only constant in life is change”. Whether it’s due to economic shifts, technological advancements, or market disruptions, the workplace will always evolve. With intentional and purposeful conversations around strategy, organizations can not only survive but thrive with change.

At Ideba, we are seasoned to support our clients facing ever-changing and challenging atmospheres. Drop me a line if you’d like to discuss strategies or just catch up on your “new normal”.

And remember, “Be the change you want to see in the world”!

– Leah McQuillan, Research Manager

[Blog photo from Wikipedia]