The Lion King | 47
Making Organ-
ization Change
Happen
Effectively
By Ifeyinwa Olloh
C
hange management involves
managing people and ensuring
that those ingredients of change
are affecting the organization in a
positive way. It is also when employ-
ees are fully aware of the competitive
environment and work hand in hand
with management to apply new
methods so as to maintain a competi-
tive advantage.
In today’s global competitive environ-
ment, organisations are continuously
changing in response to market trends
or conditions. When an organisation
is involved in the process of making
changes and restructuring its system,
it is important for the Human Resource
Department (HRD) to take up a
leadership role; applying its expertise to
manage the change process.
Prior to a change process however, it
is expected that the management of
the organisation should carry along
whatever decisions being taken with
HRD and the key decision makers in
the planning process, so when the
change(s) is (are) implemented, it will
not come as a surprise or shock to the
rest of the employees. This way informa-
tion is disseminated appropriately and
the change process will be seamless.
Here are three principles for managing
change:
1.
Focus on achieving the goal.
Change is a means to an improved
process, and when this improvement
is achieved, an obvious transforma-
tion in the organization is realized.
2.
Change ambassadors are required
to play an active role in the change
process. A lot of commitment is
expected from the employees
involved. Planning, strategy and
delivery are very important.
Feature
3.
As the popular saying goes, ‘an
organisation’s employees are their
priciest assets’ but at the same time,
they could be the organization’s
biggest challenge. Therefore, there
is a need for the management, even
before the rest of the employees, to
believe in the purpose of the plan,
understand the reason why the
initiative is necessary and show the
can-do spirit to achieve it.
certainly do not try to blame
your immediate boss. Saying,
“I am sorry, it is my mistake, it
would not happen again” will
help you put all but hanging
offences behind you.
6. Do not mix
it up
Draw a line between your
personal life and work. Do
not talk incessantly about
your life outside work. If you
are having trouble in your
personal life, keep it to one or
two confidants. No one else
at work needs to know – or
more to the point, wants to
know about your travails at
home. Remember, there is
no way that broadcasting
your personal difficulties will
improve your standing with the
boss.
And here are three things you
must get right to avoid killing
your career:
Know what is expected.
No
one wants a drone and a
“yes-man”, but if you do not
understand the corporate
culture or what is expected of
you, you are gone. It is possi-
ble to fit in without squashing
your creativity. Remember
who you work for and why.
Money is not everything,
do
not create the impression that
you are working just for a pay
cheque. That is the hallmark of
a clock- puncher, and will kill
all the chances for advance-
ment. If you are so unhappy
with your job that you live for
the 24th of each month, it is
time to start sending out your
CVs.
Little things can become a
big deal at work;
though your
dentist will love you for flossing,
you would not earn the affec-
tion of your co-workers if you
do it at your desk. Similarly,
though your pastor would
praise you for sharing the faith,
your co-workers and boss may
not find it appealing. Leave
the gossip for the tabloids and
online blogs.
