The saying, “Change is the only constant,” seems very fitting when running a business. But if that’s true, why are we so afraid of change? Right now we live in a world where everyone loses their minds over the latest Facebook or Twitter update. Change can be frustrating but these multi-billion dollar companies wouldn’t have gotten where they are today without change. Can you imagine if we still had our original Facebook profiles? They’re probably better off living fondly in our memories.
The same goes for any company – you can’t grow without change. This is especially true when it comes to technology. Many organizations are trading in labor and paper-intensive processes for automated, streamlined operations, and now is not the time to be left behind. Below are four tips to help communicate change in the workplace:
1. Act fast before the rumor mill beats you to it
As soon as you make a decision, come up with a game plan to tell your employees. If you’re making a big change, it’s possible that a Chatty Cathy (sorry, Cathies. Cathys? Cathees?) could get a hold of some information and spiral the whole situation out of control. The best way to shut down rumors is to act fast and tell your employees as soon as possible.
2. Lay it all out on the table
Don’t beat around the bush when you’re communicating change; instead be as clear and descriptive as possible. People tend to resist change because they focus on what they have to give up rather than what they will gain. For this reason, it’s very important to explain how the change will better the business. For example, in the case of business process automation, emphasize the aspects of their job that will become easier. Will they need to do substantially less data entry? Will they have faster access to information? Let them know! Replacing fear with excitement is the main goal.
3. Don’t just talk, but listen as well
When you’re done giving you spiel, open the floor for discussion so employees can ask questions. Listen to what they have to say and respond in a caring manner. This is also a great way to reinforce the positives this change can bring. Listening to their questions and concerns is essential throughout the whole process to put their minds at ease for a smooth transition.
4. Celebrate the change
Implementing change can be hard at first and a little messy in the middle, but the end results can be oh-so sweet. After it’s all said and done, put up banners, pop open the champagne, and CELEBRATE! Let your employees know their hard work paid off in the end. Whether the change is saving time, cutting costs, or increasing efficiency- let them know! If you show them their success, then they’ll be much more prone to change the next time around.
Change isn’t as easy as flipping a switch – it takes time. For more information on how you can add business process automation to your business to implement change, connect with one of our business process experts below!
