4 Tips for Managing Change in Your Company

Has your company faced countless changes after the last 18 months of the COVID Pandemic? You are not alone! Whether your company has made big adjustments, or small, many adjustments, or few, the change is probably causing some level of stress among your employees.

How do you help alleviate some of that stress and ensure your company transitions as smoothly as possible?

We have compiled some tips and tricks to consider while implementing change in your organization:

1.Communication is Key

First, you need to communicate changes within your organization to your employees. Open and honest communication fosters trust, and trust helps employees see and understand the “why”.

It is also important to encourage feedback and questions. Just make sure you are listening to employees when they come to you! Employees may have a better understanding of how certain changes will truly affect the organization, and how to improve upon your ideas to make transitions smoother. Consider hosting a town hall meeting to encourage discussion and engage employees in the process!

2. Stay Positive

Much like people have been doing to survive the COVID pandemic, it is important to maintain a positive attitude in the face of change. Employees will look to leadership to understand how and why changes are coming, and you can set the tone to make the transition a positive experience.

Find positive ways to engage your employees and help them embrace the changes. Consider rolling out updates with a company celebration, rewarding teams that are quick to learn new systems and implement new policies and processes, or focus on building a fun and positive company culture that everyone is proud to be a part of!

3. Keep Training and Learning

So, you’ve announced your planned changes…now what? Your employees are going to need training on using new programs, equipment, and policies and procedures. Plan a comprehensive training program that is uniform, and user friendly, to set employees up for success, and ensure everyone is on the same page. You’ll also want to make sure your leadership team is up to date on the best ways to manage their team through the changes!

While training your employees, also realize that there are endless opportunities for you to continue to grow. Continuing to educate yourself on updated technology, programs, and other relevant topics will help you continue to grow and thrive and may even make the next round of changes you and your company face just a little bit easier!

4. Support Your Employees

Finally, remember that without your employees, your business would not be where it is today. Everyone handles stress and change in different ways, and employees may also be facing changes in their personal lives, while they handle change in the workplace.

Foster a work environment and company culture that encourages employees to seek help and feel safe communicating with supervisors and coworkers. Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) are a great way to provide a safe, confidential avenue to receive support with personal problems that may negatively affect their professional life. EAPs can provide services for employees and their families in a myriad of ways, including stress, addiction, grief, mental illness, marital or family issues, job performance issues, and so much more! We can help you implement an EAP for your organization!

Change is not always easy, but it is a constant, and we have not seen the last of changes brought on by COVID. Integrity HR is here to help you continue to thrive!