Preparing for Change Management

31 January 2016

In our ever changing economic climate, businesses are constantly striving to stay competitive. This can be anything from reducing staffing levels to a complete company restructure. These changes often have a detrimental effect on staff motivation and productivity. According to various polls, only 25% of change management initiatives are successful long term. However, if the changes that need to be implemented are planned and managed effectively, the transition from where your business is, to where you need it to be will be a smooth one.

Take the time to develop a time frame and plan. This will determine the method of change management used, consultative or autocratic. Objections will inevitably be raised, identifying these beforehand will enable you to have the solutions to any fears or concerns as they arise. Appointing an HR project manager will identify key roles within the process making sure those involved are aware of their responsibilities and accountabilities.

Preparing for Change Management

Communication will need to be developed as part of the overall plan. Clarity is key, if the reason why the change is being implemented is clear, resistance is much less likely.

Communication should be:

Reasons for the change
Who will be affected
Timeframes of actions

Those that may need to be involved in communications include Union Reps, Employee Reps or all employees (often determined by size of organisation).

Legal implications will also need to be given consideration and a plan put in place to alleviate any issues that may arise. External resources may be needed and should be engaged as part of the change management team.

Once all the groundwork has been laid, and only then, the plan should be implemented. At this stage, all those involved will have a clear idea of what they are doing and why. Goals will have been clearly laid out, and the team will work effectively towards them. Monitoring will need to take place at set intervals to ensure that the plan is continuously effective with modifications taking place where necessary.

If you need to implement a change within your business, Solved HR can help smooth the implementation. Contact Simon Merriman on 07714 790024 or email info@solvedhr.co.uk