Keys to change management in your company

There are many changes that can arise in companies, whether due to a new work methodology, the implementation of a new tool, or even a new product on the market. In turn, these changes can arise for different reasons such as the need to go digital, a change of trend in the market, legislative changes, among others.  In this context, adapting and managing change has become a fundamental skill to face the present and the future. 

However, a large number of companies and workers do not have the tools they need to implement change properly. In an IBM study, only 40% of respondents believe they have the right skills to manage change projects successfully in the future.  

This could be because in many cases change can be difficult to implement, and this is where business leaders have a key role to play. So, what can companies do to plan change efficiently and involve all teams in the process? Change management could be the answer. 

What is change management? 

Change management aims to facilitate and achieve the successful implementation of transformation processes from review and approval to project culmination. This involves working to ensure that each person involved in the process accepts and assimilates the changes to reduce any resistance to them as far as possible. 

In this sense, digital transformation plays an important role in change management. This is because it has revolutionised the way companies work and has become the answer to the need to face certain transformations quickly and efficiently. For this reason, we will see in this post why change management is necessary and what are the keys to address it. 

The importance of change management in companies 

People are a company's main asset and, therefore, the consequences of change are borne by them. Normally, it is common for change in people to generate certain resistance, insecurities or uncertainty. This is because doing things differently involves new learning, effort and stepping out of the comfort zone. For this reason, the ability of workers to adapt and manage change can be an indicator of professional leadership. 

In fact, people who have the ability to face new challenges and become aware of the need for change increase their commitment to the company and to the success of its processes. But for this to happen, it is necessary to build trust in all employees, to generate a constant flow of information and to create a good working atmosphere. In addition, it is important to transmit the process of change by focusing on those positive elements that help to improve results and solve problems. All of this while accompanying people to help them with the difficulties they may encounter. 

Companies need to be aware of the importance of managing change well in order to reduce the impact on employees. 

Keys to addressing change management 

• Leading the idea of change 

It is important to create and make visible the need for change as a business opportunity within the company in order to generate a positive attitude among those who are involved. 

• Creating a roadmap 

It is essential to set out a way forward with realistic objectives and outcomes. This path should be easy to communicate, understand and remember. 

• Communicating effectively 

It is of utmost importance to communicate the vision and objective. It is also necessary to make the reason for the change and its justification clear. In this way we can get people to take ownership of the project and to commit themselves. 

• Measuring results 

It is essential to evaluate all processes and analyse the results obtained. In this way it can be ensured that the results are as expected and if not, changes can be made and new strategies can be adopted to achieve the objectives. 

As Stephen Hawking said: intelligence is the ability to adapt to change. For this reason, a company's proactiveness in dealing with change will determine its ability to adopt a new process and adapt to the market. Change management helps companies to accelerate transformations and create value for the future. The key is to establish a clear and structured framework for managing the effects of change.