Business Management

Managing Change in Your Business

Managing change in an organization is crucial if the business is to move forward with adapting any new structure or shift in business focus needed to realize its goals of growth and profit improvement.
Here are a few thoughts on areas management needs to focus on to implement and manage change in the organization.



1. Responsibility. 
Clearly management of change rests at the senior levels of the organization. Employees have the responsibility to accept and help implement changes which need to be communicated clearly so employees understand the purpose and how it impacts on their individual roles.

2. Involvement. 
Management should involve employees in the changes – it is never a good idea to just impose change from the top. Midlevel and frontline employees can make or break the change initiative,

3. Plan.
The organization must develop a plan that is achievable if management is going to be credible. The plan should set out stages for implementing change in phases that are not only achievable but measureable.

4. Communicate
This stage cannot be overly stressed. Clear communication of objectives, involvement of people, at the early stages, and enabling of employees will facilitate involvement and buy in for the company.

5. Assess and Adapt
 Many organizations involved in transformation efforts fail to measure their success before moving on. Leaders are so eager to claim victory that they don’t take the time to find out what’s working and what’s not, and to adjust their next steps accordingly. This failure to follow through results in inconsistency and deprives the organization of needed information about how to support the process of change throughout its life cycle.

It is obvious to most business owners that people matter. Sometimes however the organization gets lost in plans and processes rather than facing the difficult and more important people issues. Making the initial steps to involve the entire organization starting at the top will help achieve success.
I’m always happy to hear your thoughts.
Gerry@polarisgroupmc.com