Tips of Managing Change

One of the most stressful aspects of change is often the sense of loss of control that accompanies it. The individual can feel powerless and helpless, feelings that can be very anxiety-provoking. However, steps can be taken to mitigate this reaction

1.   Communicate the changes efficiently, effectively and in a timely manner. A vacuum of information breeds scare stories and fuels uncertainty and anxiety

2.   Provide opportunities for employees to ask questions about the changes and how they will affect them. The line manager can often be the crucial link in this case

3.   Encourage employees to use the support available to them. If your organization has an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) then make sure employees know how to access this service

4.   Make sure that your EAP provider is told in advance about the changes so that they can gear up to provide any additional support if required

5.   If the changes are likely to lead to redundancies then take steps to ensure that managers are adequately trained to deal with these situations in a sensitive but professional manner

6.   Remember that sometimes those ‘surviving’ a phase of redundancies are likely to need some support to adapt to the new work environment. Organizations are often good at providing outplacement counseling for those leaving but forget that those staying may also require help

7.   Provide training for managers in how to manage the human side of change: supporting people in dealing with the pressures of adapting to change is an important management skill

8.   Offer training to individuals to help them develop the resiliency skills to be able to regain a sense of personal control in a climate of change

Author:  Geoff Taylor, well-being consultant at ICAS, the international EAP specialists.