Leading change requires new mindsets, skills, and techniques. It’s more than managing budgets or metrics; the key lies in understanding and managing the people side of change.
Here’s a simple, strategic, and successful guide for leaders to navigate change.
Grasp what leading change entails: Leading change goes beyond strategic or logistical aspects. Leaders must monitor employees’ attitudes and needs, providing information and support. Clearly communicating the vision and “why” for the change is vital. Leaders should actively listen, addressing concerns, and motivate teams to adopt the change.
Embrace a team effort with diverse leaders: Change management thrives on collaboration. Executive sponsors share the vision, rationale, and commitment. Senior leaders reinforce the change’s importance, while managers and supervisors interpret the change for their teams. Change agents, peer leaders and early adopters, communicate, listen, and demonstrate desired behaviors.
Model the change, don’t just delegate: Leaders must demonstrate support at all levels. Visible champions inspire confidence, and by modeling desired behaviors, they encourage employees to embrace new ways of working.
Achieve adoption and sustain the change: Consider stakeholders’ needs and concerns. Collaborate with communication teams to create materials and share the vision. Engaging leaders at all levels throughout the process ensures lasting impact.
Set expectations and hold people accountable: Clear communication is essential. Convey expectations for the change and acknowledge those demonstrating desired behaviors. Leading by example, participating in training, and adopting new behaviors helps show commitment. Regular check-ins and listening sessions address questions or concerns and support employees through change.
Lead from within: Successful change leadership starts with understanding people’s needs and ends with sustained commitment and action. This simple, strategic, and successful guide will help leaders effectively manage change.
#1 N A T I O N A L B E S T S E L L E R
The Leadership Gap
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
Additional Reading you might enjoy:
- 12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow Old
- A Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness
- How to Succeed as A New Leader
- 12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
- 4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
- The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
- The Deception Trap of Leadership
Of Lolly’s many awards and accolades, Lolly was designated a Top-50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc. magazine. Huffington Post honored Lolly with the title of The Most Inspiring Woman in the World. Her writing has appeared in HBR, Inc.com, Fast Company (Ask The Expert), Huffington Post, and Psychology Today, and others. Her newest book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness has become a national bestseller.