Ways to Avoid Employee Resistance to Change at the Workplace
It’s not easy for employees to accept changes. They will resist anything that you introduce. When they’re used to doing the same thing over and over again, they won’t feel positive about changes. Here’s what you must do if you want to pursue changes without getting too much resistance.
Be clear about your plans
Before talking to the employees, make sure you have a plan. It’s easier to explain your ideas when your plans are clear. If they have questions, you can always refer to the details. You should also include the objectives for pursuing these changes. You can’t introduce anything that doesn’t have a long-term goal. Your employees won’t understand your intentions and will be more resistant.
Don’t surprise the employees
When you want the employees to listen to your plans, make sure you don’t surprise them with these changes. It doesn’t matter how hard the changes are for everyone. You must be transparent. You also have to gradually tell the plans and allow conversations to take place. There might be several meetings along the way, but it’s part of the implementation of change.
Be diplomatic
Understand that your employees won’t accept these changes immediately. They will question your motivations. They will also think that the company is heading in the wrong direction. Therefore, it helps to be diplomatic. Entertain questions and be patient about them. You can’t please everyone, but at least give a chance to discuss the issues. Besides, getting angry and defensive won’t do anything. You will only trigger more angry employees if you don’t discuss things in a diplomatic way.
Don’t finalize anything without consultation
Allow your employees to have a voice in the process. You don’t want them to feel like robots who will only accept whatever your commands are. Therefore, it pays to consult with the employees first before finalizing anything. It can be a tense conversation, but it’s part of the process. You can’t expect immediate acceptance from the employees.
Be transparent about potential layoffs
When these changes involve the removal of some employees, you must be transparent about it. Don’t wait until it’s too late for these people to have a backup plan. Your transparency will go a long way. You will also make some employees more sympathetic about what the business is going through.
Be optimistic
Your tone must be optimistic throughout the process. Don’t be defensive or outraged. You’re introducing changes and you want everyone to be on board. Your optimism also shows your excellence as a leader. It tells people that you can stir the business in the right path. You can also adapt to changes.
Resistance will always be there and you can’t stop how people feel. You can mitigate the situation
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1st and featured image from https://unsplash.com/photos/e6n7uoEnYbA
2nd image from https://www.liveabout.com/how-to-reduce-employee-resistance-to-change-1918992
