Turn with the leaves, Reflect on change this fall

Photo:http://flic.kr/p/443iPE

Fall is a time where your senses are on overload -- the leaves begin to turn, the air becomes brisk, and the afternoon sun disappears more quickly. With your surroundings rapidly changing, your mind is forced to reflect on other revolving aspects of your life. Whether it’s how fast time has flown this summer or planning for company changes ahead, fall is a time to reflect on change.

However, oftentimes change overwhelms your employees. We learned from Dr. Jerry Jellison at the TEC Senior Managers’ Program how to effectively approach resistance to change, both at the individual and organizational level by using activation tools instead of persuasion. Tools to utilize include establishing open communication about change, tapping into your team’s creative skills to accelerate change, and establishing accountability to follow through on initiatives to complete change.

To begin the change implementation process and help your team overcome obstacles, reflect on a time when change was out of your control. Maybe it was moving somewhere new for school or work. Perhaps it was witnessing your company complete a merger or acquisition. Resistance to change is an emotional cliff. Taking time to think about what emotions are or will be present when change is on the horizon, will help you avoid the many ways leaders inadvertently create resistance to change. Taking a step back will also help build the trust of your team while you all go through a major transition.

How do you help your team overcome resistance to change? In your experience, what strategies work the best to facilitate seamless transitions?