Setting a new path through uncharted territory

In my life, I have found that no one is ever mad when you are looking at things from a different lens or perspective. As a matter of fact, I find that many people appreciate alternative ways of thinking because new is always sought after.

New phones, tablets, televisions, trends in fashion, hairstyles…etc. All of these things are typically viewed as a positive change. So why not a new business model…why do we feel like change in our workplace and businesses are negative or intrusive? It’s the type of change that creates the emotional response.

Anytime an employee is asked to do something that differs from their current process, it can feel as though you’re telling them what they do isn’t good enough to get the job done. It takes more time to learn a new process and in some cases given the message isn’t communicated correctly it feels like “one more thing to do”. Take care in the messaging when rolling out something new, include your team in the development process or at least allow time for testing and feedback throughout the phase to promote full adoption. Be open to making adjustments…as leaders you gain the trust and confidence of your team members and they’ll appreciate feeling heard.