The Most Common Change Management Mistakes Can Be Avoided
Our organizational alignment research found that the highest performing businesses have leaders and employees who are highly responsive to making the changes required to stay competitive in their marketplace. Yet, as McKinsey reports, nearly three-quarters of organizational change efforts fail due to a lack of management support and strong employee resistance. The good news is that the most common change management mistakes can be avoided.
The 6 Most Common Change Management Mistakes
With over twenty-five years of organizational change management consulting under our belts, we have seen much go wrong and much go right. As a result, we can tell you a lot about the wrong way to manage change.
And if you can avoid the most common change management mistakes and pitfalls, you will find your organization on the right path to change success.
To avoid this common change management mistake, analyze and then prioritize the most critical changes to be made and then be ready to spend more time preparing the foundation for change success.
Leaders need to understand that it is only natural to resist change in the workplace. Employees often worry about the effort it will take, their ability to learn a new way of doing things, and even whether they will be able to keep their jobs.
They may not like it yet, but leaders must be clear about why the change is in their best interests and in the best interests of the company over the long term.
One of the most devastating change management mistakes is not providing enough resources, time, reinforcement, or training to see that change goes as smoothly as possible.
Change management simulations can be a great way for leaders to practice various scenarios and approaches to change in a safe, yet relevant, environment.
The Bottom Line
The most common change management mistakes can be avoided if you plan ahead and prepare your team accordingly. The ability to change should be a vital part of keeping your business healthy and competitive. Invest the time to get it right.
To learn more about how to avoid the most common change management mistakes by having a different perspective, download The 5 Ways Leaders Should Look at Organizational Change
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