10 Tips for Managing Change in the Workplace

In recent months, chances are that your workplace has undergone some level of change. Management might have been restructured, new workplace policies could been implemented, or employees might have shuffled to different departments or office. All three may have happened.

Change in the workplace can feel challenging to manage. That’s why we created this guide to help you navigate through the changes in your workplace and manage them successfully.

What is organizational change?

Organizational change occurs when a company modifies aspects of its strategy or operations.

For example, there may be transformations in business culture and objectives that include adopting new technologies essential for creating a better workplace. Industry shifts or economic conditions can also be a catalyst for organizational change.

In 2018, Insight Global underwent massive organizational change after experiencing high turnover in 2017. Since then, the company has refocused on building an outstanding culture and has ensured that the business is constructed around its core values:

Everyone matters
We take care of each other
Leadership is here to serve
High character and hard work above all else
Always know where you stand.

How often do you innovate at your own company? Changes can take place over time or, if necessary, intermittently. According to Harvard Business School, change can be classified into two categories:

Adaptability: When an employee or organization implements new processes to “fine-tune” what is going on within the company, like adding a new page to the company’s website or offering a new service.
Transformational: When an entire organizational philosophy, business structure, or culture changes from the top down.

These two types of change can intertwine and happen at the same time, too.

Why Does change happen in the workplace?

Changes of any kind, for any reason, can happen in the workplace.

Most businesses shifted to a remote working model during the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, and many of those businesses have made the change permanent. Some have shifted to hybrid work models to reap the benefits of in-office collaboration while still offering their employees the same level of flexibility possible with remote work.

Businesses need to stay at the forefront of change to operate without disruption and keep employees engaged. Change in the workplace often come on very quickly, so it’s important to be ready.

Changes in the workplace can also include:

New management or owners
Different process or platforms to accomplish and complete tasks
New roles within a team or organization meant to take on responsibilities other team members used to handle
Addition or subtraction of team meetings, perks, or benefits

These are just a few types of changes, but they types that occur across all industries.

Types of Changes in the workplace

Change in the workplace happens across all industries and job types. However, there are some overarching terms used to describe the types of change in the workplace that happen, followed by some examples of change that have happened here at Insight Global:

Reinforced change: When an organization improves its performance by reinforcing or strengthening what already exists. Insight Global developed a new sales framework to enhance the way we conduct ours sales operations.
Restructured change: When an organization enhances its effectiveness through a structural reorganization. We realigned our IT department under one roof rather than having separate IT departments within different divisions.
Reorientation change: This occurs when an organization adapts to stay competitive and make a sustainable future possible. Insight Global created new consulting divisions DEIB and Compass (culture consulting) to keep up with business needing to adjust their diversity and cultural efforts.
Remedial change: When an existing framework or framework fails to adapt, causing problems. We mentioned the retention problem we had earlier. The change that happened included overhauling our entire framework of hiring, training, and, most importantly, how we built and maintain our culture.

Remember, these types of changes can be smaller and easier to implement, or they can be totally transformational and take a long time to happen.

No matter the type of change, managing it can be challenging, but there’s a right way to handle it.

7 tips for dealing with change in the workplace

Here are seven tips for managing change in your job or company.

1. Accept change that will happen

Change can be scary, but it’s inevitable. Many employees feel fear when they don’t know what is coming next.

The best way to combat this is to create order, with serenity being your guiding principle for creating predictability amid uncertainty. You have to believe that things will be okay, even if they don’t go as planned. This belief should be reinforced by words of assurance from your managers and leaders, who communicate why change is happening (more on this in a bit).

2. Look at the bigger picture

Change often happens for a reason. Ask yourself why change is occurring; this may give you some insight into how to handle it better or where your focus needs to lie. Ideally, this guidance will come from the top level down, but at the very least, team leaders should understand how the change will affect the business moving forward. This understanding will then help trickle down to team members.

There might be something bigger happening within the company’s culture that has nothing to do with you personally but will affect every employee. For example, at Insight Global, it wasn’t one person or team causing the high turnover rate mentioned at the beginning of the article. Instead, it was the organization’s culture that needed change.

In other instances, there may be a lot of changes happening at once that seem chaotic and out of control. However, consider if they serve a greater purpose than meets the eye. Communicating clarity on this will help create understanding and buy-in across the company. Detaching yourself from the emotions of change may lead to new opportunities and provide clarity on the bigger picture.

3. speak Up if necessary

If something feels wrong or you disagree with a change happening at your organization, talk to your leader and express your concerns. Open communication can help address issues early, provide different perspectives, and potentially lead to adjustments that benefit everyone. Honest feedback is always valuable.

4. Adapt to Different change management styles

As a manager or supervisor, it’s important to recognize who on your team adapts (and even looks for) change and who thrives with more consistency. There’s a balancing act on making sure both personality types are taken into account when organizational change occurs.

5. Work together as a team

Work together with your team—whether it’s a few people in your department or the entire company—to successfully implement any change in the workplace.

One of Insight Global’s core values is “we take care of each other,” and this is especially true when the company undergoes any change. You can’t leave any employee behind.

6. Communicate, communicate, communicate

Change can be disruptive if not managed properly, especially if employees have grown accustomed to their work environment and daily routines. Some employees may resist change altogether.

Effective communication is crucial in situations like this. It’s important to acknowledge everyone’s concerns while also demonstrating how the change will positively impact the business and their professional development.

If an employee expresses concerns about how a change will affect their role, provide reassurance that they will have all the resources they need to make sure they can adapt to change and feel comfortable with it.

To gain the team’s acceptance of new procedures and protocols, it’s essential to present your case clearly and purposefully. This increases the likelihood of securing their support and cooperation during the implementation of change.

7. Set goals and remain motivated

No matter what happens with change, always set goals and stay motivated in your personal purpose and the company’s mission. Even though some people may feel they are no longer working in the same way as before, it’s important to focus on what should be rather than what has changed or is changing.

Insight Global CEO Bert Bean advises, “Don’t just say ‘I want to grow.’ Define success. Actually write out what growth looks like for you. Set it against a timeline with specific dates. Sit down and discuss it with someone—a leader or a trusted peer—who will hold you accountable for achieving your goals.”

Although change is inevitable, it doesn’t have to be disruptive. The key is to remain flexible and open-minded when facing change. These goals can ensure that you, your team, and the company continue working towards meaningful objectives during times of change, holding each other accountable along the way.

Why is managing change important?

The reason why managing change is important comes down to why organizational leaders implement change in the first place: they want employees to be productive and successful. However, leaders should also want their workforce to be happy and satisfied, too!

Leaders don’t implement change unless it’s in the company’s best interest. So, if you feel anxious about a new policy or process, talk with your leader about your feelings and ask questions to get a better idea of why the change is happening.

What the workplace looks like in the future after implementing change is uncertain for all parties involved. If you’re interested in learning more about how changes can be successfully implemented, you can:

Consult with an organizational development specialist
Participate in coworker training sessions on change management
Use personal coaching or counseling to sort through what you want to accomplish or how to manage your feelings during a period of change

The key to an effective change management process is making sure everyone involved has the information they need to make good decisions moving forward. So be proactive and ask questions.

Conclusion

The key to managing change is being proactive. This can be accomplished through a few simple steps, which we have outlined throughout this blog. Take the time to understand why change may be happening to know how best to prepare your team members for the impending changes. Next, work with management or HR to plan out who will be impacted by this change and when they should find out about it!

You should also communicate early and often with your staff as much as possible before any disruptions happen so you can answer questions and alleviate fears of uncertainty. Finally, start thinking creatively about how this new challenge might bring some positive benefits along with it.

Change brings opportunity, so check out the Insight Global hiring page when you’re ready to hire, and we’ll instantly connect you with top talent.