Change Management

Change management is a systematic approach to dealing with change, both from the perspective of an organization and on the individual level. Change management has at least three different aspects, including: adapting to change, controlling change, and effecting change. A proactive approach to dealing with change is at the core of all three aspects. For an organization, change management means defining and implementing procedures and technologies to deal with changes in the business environment and to profit from changing opportunities

Successful adaptation to change is as crucial within an organization as it is in the natural world. Just like plants and animals, organizations and the individuals in them inevitably encounter changing conditions that they are powerless to control. The more effectively you deal with change, the more likely you are to thrive. Adaptation might involve establishing a structured methodology for responding to changes in the business environment, such as a fluctuation in the economy, or a threat from a competitor or establishing coping mechanisms for responding to changes in the workplace.

While in the US Military, I have faced many different forms of change. The technology changes we all understood were for the better. I think the majority of time we managers and supervisors often forget about the human side of change management. Change can be threatening to individuals and organizations. Yet successful adaptation to change is crucial to the success of any organization. Failing to address the human side of change can be costly. Studies show that employee resistance and a lack of proper training are key hindrances to organizational change. There is a set of best practices that can be adapted to a variety of situations.

1. Involvement. The senior leadership team must visibly embrace the new approaches to motivate and challenge the rest of the organization.

2. Communicate.  Senior leaders must focus on creating a communication...