‘Constant change’ sounds a contradiction since a thing, or situation, is either constant (the same) or changing, but we all know that that ‘constant change’ is the way the markets, the technology and the economy are nowadays. What works today may not work tomorrow, what sells today is most probably obsolete tomorrow… we have entered a new era and we must all adapt to the new paradigm.
Businesses are usually in one of 3 states:
The first and worst is ‘unchangeable’: “This is the way we do things here, our traditions”.
Unless there is an exceptional product and amazing customer loyalty, this type of business is heading for extinction.
The second is ‘minimal change’ where a certain amount of change is happening all the time. Things evolve, such as mobile devices being adopted across the organization without fuss, software or telecommunication systems being updated. It creates a certain sense of keeping up-to-date but is usually unstructured and some areas may be left behind.
The third is the occasional ‘major change’ when pushed by an internal or external factor – the company grows and needs new equipment or premises or a downsizing takes place with impact on the physical and emotional work environment.
Here there are some of the myths about this situation:
1. Changes must be meticulously planned – this is only true if it is a mission critical area.
Having the end goal and main steps defined is sufficient for many situations, especially where experience will be gained while implementing.
2. Planning will make the change happen – just because there is a plan doesn’t mean it will be put into action – some never get off the ground. Then of course the plan might be put in a draw and not followed. The plan is only part of the change process.
3. People need to be fully informed of the change to get their cooperation – this is not true where there is a good level of trust. There is no advantage in spending excessive time informing all staff of all the details. There will be a need for more interaction with those who will be impacted more.
Planning is a must in any business nowadays but it needs to be flexible.
If companies develop a culture of cooperation and efficient communication at all levels so that everybody understands the company’s mission and goals, it will be easier to adapt to the market changes – either small or major.
Overworked, stressed out staff resist change, especially when benefits are only going to be seen in the medium to long term, but motivated and energized team members will welcome it as a way to keep their jobs and have the opportunity to progress in their careers.
Some enterprises have change management down to a fine art. However, change must result from anticipating market trends and opportunities, not be made just for the sake of it!
