FEAR FACTOR Unfortunately, once the reality sets in, many people react both openly and behind closed doors with negativity, which is a response that is motivated by fear of the unknown. With COVID-19 it is hard to know what is going to happen from one day to the next let alone plan for it as it is in response to factors that are out of the control of the business owners and employ- ees. However, in saying that most people’s first instinctive thought is, what will happen to me? It is important to remember that this is a normal reaction but one that can hinder acceptance and stall the change process. Some will wrongly fear negative consequences, and others will correctly identify real threats to their jobs. You manage fear by letting people express their feelings and concerns and giving them opportu- nities to vent their concerns and or anger about what is happening. Reactions are personal and sometimes emotional; listen and watch careful- ly so you can respond to the most apprehensive people on your team. UNDERSTANDING & ACCEPTANCE Now that everyone’s fears have been expressed and understood, they should begin to calm down, understand and accept the situation. This is an important turning point—the change initiative may be out of danger, but people will continue testing the boundaries and exploring what it means to them and the business. So, you need to stay on top of this and keep your eyes and ears open to what is happening in and outside of the place of business. You need to support people and establish a good foundation for this stage by making sure people are well trained and have early opportunities to experi- ence what the changes will bring. As a business leader you need to understand that productivity may drop a bit at this point as people begin testing the waters, but you need to remain focused as you keep an eye on the goal.
TRANSFORMATION You are close but you are not there yet. Employ- ees have expressed their fears and concerns, understood the reality of changes, tested the boundaries of the change, and now they are ready for the transformation to take place. This is critical as it is the point where employ- ees stop focusing on what they’ve lost and begin considering how they can add value and reap the benefits of the change. Once they understand the, “What’s in it for them” they will become more productive and efficient, and the positive effects of change will become apparent. During COVID-19, it seems that this has been more or less a rinse and repeat process when it comes to change however, if you have a stra- tegic plan for change and you can recognize, acknowledge and address the four stages of change with the team that you manage, your ini- tiatives will have a great track record for success and help you take your business to the next level regardless of the pressure that the pandemic of economic pressure puts on your business.
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JANUARY 2021 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2021
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