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Top Tips for lasting change

Most change programmes fail. In these turbulent economic times how can organisations keep their staff happy and motivated?

Across British industry, restructure and redundancy has become the norm. Even those organisations unaffected by such measures are suffering from increased stress-levels brought on by stories of woe and financial pressures.  In order to emerge from the recession a better and more productive workforce, businesses need to invest time and energy into their staff.  

Research has shown that businesses that do not invest in their people are 2.5 times more likely to fail than those that do*. It’s a scary statistic. Yet, this week, CIPD reported UK organisations have cut training budgets by a third. 

It seems that only the most savvy businesses are recognising an increased need to up motivation and drive efficiency to and all time high.  During the redundancy period many organisations fail to recognise the affect on those left behind. The ‘survivors’ who have retained their jobs through the restructuring process have a lot to cope with; increased job insecurity, workload and responsibilities, guilt as well as new structures to understand.

Business leaders need to be willing to tackle the challenges their business faces with some gusto and make the changes that are necessary.  This requires big changes, yet statistics show that 70% of change programmes fail.   This is because most change programmes focus on changing organisations’ processes and systems. To be successful your staff must be willing and ready to take the leap. Only then will your business really achieve its ultimate potential.

To initiate successful change that lasts, CragRats believe that you must focus on the behaviours of your staff.   At the heart of each of our tailored programmes lies a unique understanding of organisational mindset and culture change. Your learning experiences should involve aligning the values and beliefs of your staff with those of the organisational goals to improve performance. 

1. Communication
Consistent communication across your business is imperative.  Using a blended approach encompassing face-to-face events/meetings and seminars, team meetings, eLearning programmes, internal marketing communications to ensure you keep your staff informed about changes and how it will affect them.  Spell out the behaviours and attitudes you need to ensure your business achieves the objectives set.

2. Clear objectives
Complex financial objectives will not hit the mark with some of your staff. Remember that everyone learns and absorbs information in a different way. Ensure that everyone in your business understands the objectives and the contribution they can personally make to achieving them.

3. Strong leadership
Great leadership enables an organisation to achieve results beyond the ordinary. Leaders will have an unequivocal source of inspiration that underpins their actions and can be drawn upon by their people. CragRats advocates the following leadership principles:

• Walk the talk - demonstrate credibility; exude authenticity; be principle led
• Pioneer - harness creativity; promote innovation; take risks
• Seek first to understand - seek opinion and contribution; use accessible language; speak with conviction
• Be contagious - engender trust; enable others to act; share the power
• Share the dream - shared values and outcomes; celebrate success; recognise contribution

4. Buy-in across the business
Senior people might lead the organisation, set the direction and put the plans in place. Yet in reality they are not the people who can make it happen. People at all levels of  the organisation determine whether a change program delivers. Get them involved.

5. Lack of performance measures
Change is usually about improvement. Unless there is a clear set of measures that can let people know whether they are on or off track, that are monitored and people are held accountable for sustainable change is unlikely.

6. Underestimating emotions
By engaging with people on an emotional level you can foster new attitudes and behaviours and make a difference across the whole culture of your organisations.  Emotional buy-in to the change is what will make the difference between success and failure.

CragRats can help! 

CragRats’ approach to learning is a blended approach that can really make a difference to your business.   We create learning programmes combining a whole range of innovative techniques; live learning (theatre, facilitation, workshops and events), media productions, eLearning, training resources and marketing communications. 

*  Collier, Green and Kim, March 2007, Training and Establishment Survival, SSDA Research Report 20.

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