How to effectively facilitate change among your team

Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher, once said that “change is the only constant in life.”

And it’s true, we see this in our everyday lives – from weather, schedules, and seasons to the dates on the calendar.  But ultimately it's up to us to determine how we will cope with life’s ever-changing nature. The same thing applies to organisations.

Most companies require their employees to adapt to change in order to maintain growth, increase efficiency, and adjust to new circumstances. But let’s be honest, some changes can be overwhelming. Therefore, change in the organisation requires strong leadership and effective management. Successfully leading others through these complicated changes will involve having a deliberate plan and a strategy to ensure that everyone in the team is on board to implement the necessary changes. 

This week's blog will discuss how effective leadership skills can help facilitate change in a team.

What is change through leadership?

A change through leadership has to undergo a process of establishing, communicating, and enacting new ideas from the leader to their team. This can be brought forth through effective leadership.

An effective leader exhibits a strong character but can still manage to empathise with their members. To be an efficient leader, you must demonstrate honesty, integrity, trustworthiness, and ethics. 

And through the help of these traits, you can properly execute a change that can provide motivation and inspiration to accomplish new goals, adopt new values, and enhance team development. 

How to facilitate change as a leader?

Here are some tips on how to effectively facilitate change through leadership.

• Communicate

Right from the beginning, you must be clear in introducing the change. The planning process should involve input from the workforce. Incorporating their feedback will make them feel heard and seen. In addition, doing this will allow you to understand and implement the change more manageable and smoother. 

• Support

Going through a change can become overwhelming to your teammates. An effective leader can recognise that since their team is diverse, their adjustment might be different from one another. Thus, as a leader, you must know how to support your group. 
You must expect that changes are not going to be accepted by everyone in an instant. Some might feel confused, while others might feel resentment or anger. This is why you must be patient with your team and help them deal with the change. Encourage them to tell you what they feel. And finally, give them time to process everything. 

• Implement

After communicating and supporting your team in going through the change, it is time for implementation. You can develop a timeline and determine your priorities as a team. And as you go along, provide your members with support to ensure a smooth transition. While you are at this stage, remember that communication still matters. Give your team a detailed timeline and expected outcomes – never leave them in the dark.
Affirmation and appreciation could also help you ensure a smoother implementation of the change. Allow them to feel motivated as they push toward the transition phase. 

• Monitor

Leadership is a continuous learning process, and so is every transition phase. After the implementation, do not just disappear and assume everything is going smoothly.  As a leader, your job is to review the progress of change and maintain open line communication. 

Improve your leadership skills with Corporate Learning Solutions

Effective leadership is not something that comes naturally to everyone. It is a long process to master the skills required to be an effective leader, and making mistakes will be inevitable. If you aspire to have a successful career in a leadership role,  it's critical you invest time in developing your leadership skills.
Corporate Learning Solutions offers leadership and management courses that will help you to take your career further, faster!

For more leadership tips, you can check Corporate Learning Solutions’ website at www.corplearn.com.au/blog.