Managing uncertainty for people managers - learn how to embrace change for business success
Managing uncertainty for people managers - learn to embrace change for business success
Change and uncertainty are two areas which people managers struggle regularly with.
The journey from identifying to embracing and implementing change effectively can often be difficult to navigate. We’ll teach you how to embrace change and how change plays an essential role in shaping success. This is where we can help.
We offer bespoke leadership management coaching for those wanting to progress their career to the next level. We work across a number of leadership management areas showing you how to perform at the top of your game and fulfil your potential.
Why do we find change difficult?
Change can affect people in a number of differing ways.
Some people naturally embrace change whilst others struggle. Our relationship with change can be fluid, it is affected by how it is presented to us, how it is communicated, and how we are taught to use it most effectively.
Teaching change to others
To be able to teach change to others, as a people manager, you must first understand your team and its needs. If you’re attuned to your team’s needs you will be able to provide tailored support enabling them to grow as a team, remain productive, challenge where needed, and ultimately, achieve greater business success.
This person-centric approach can also provide a platform for greater employee engagement, loyalty and innovation. A team that is comfortable with change, and is happy to embrace it, will succeed.
As a people manager you also need to be aware of your own needs. It can be easy to lose sight of yourself, particularly during periods of intense stress. You need to be able to assess and understand your own response to change. You won’t be able to manage and implement change within your team unless you understand how you react.
How we respond to uncertainty
How we respond to uncertainty is not straightforward, often it is not logical or linear. A typical response rhythm can include denial, anger, depression, negotiation, finally ending with acceptance. The rhythm may not follow this order, or it may even miss a step.
The time scale for a person, or team, to undergo these responses can take time. This is why managing uncertainty and helping your team to embrace change quickly and effectively is key. Having open and honest conversations without judgement helps to normalise individual experiences whilst promoting greater engagement and cohesion within a team.
Psychological safety - promoting openness within your team
Developing an environment where you and your employees feel accepted, included and confident to speak freely with ideas, concerns and questions, and without fear or concern of punishment or humiliation is vital.
In creating a psychologically safe workplace environment you are building a resilient, forward-thinking, committed, driven workforce that will deliver better business outcomes and greater success for your organisation. We offer psychological coaching and training – you can read more here.
Key steps to managing uncertainty and embracing change
Opening channels of communication within a team is one of the first steps to managing uncertainty. As manager you need to allow time for the message to evolve, engage your team at all levels, and be ready to anticipate and respond to any resistance or blow-back. You must keep your eye on the end-goal, bringing your team with you whilst frequently discussing future outcomes.
Everyone processes information differently, particularly when it involves change. As a people manager, you will need to understand your team’s communication style, as well as understanding the nuances of the individuals that make up that team.
Many managers underestimate how many times they need to communicate a message for it to be ‘heard’ by everyone in the team. A good people manager will repeat the message using a range of methods to ensure the core message is understood by all. Our coaching will help you to ascertain and implement the most successful style of communication for your team.
Communication is a two-way process. Having meaningful conversations, whether one-to-ones or team meetings, give everyone the opportunity to ask questions and promote understanding. It also creates a space to give feedback.
The process doesn’t end there, the responses should then be fed-back to the senior leaders. At Pinnacle Wellbeing Plus, we also provide 360 feedback assessment coaching. By using 360 feedback assessment coaching you are able to pinpoint exactly what an individual or team needs to ensure maximum productivity, greater efficiency, and increased success. From the CEO down, 360 degree feedback plays a key role in providing valid feedback in a structured way that minimises bias.
Many find it difficult to embrace uncertainty because it introduces an element of the unknown, which they may interpret as a loss of control. To counter this, you need to be able to anticipate spoken and unspoken concerns that could create resistance. We can help you prepare for such responses.
Organisational development and cultural change doesn’t happen overnight, it’s a process, often taking place over a number of months, involving a number of stakeholders. Embedding change means allowing the message to evolve as time passes. It is important to consistently communicate all aspects of the message but not necessarily all at the same time. Learning how to pitch the message in the most effective way, at the right time, will improve the engagement and dynamics amongst your team.
When change or uncertainty happens people worry about job security and how the company’s new direction may affect their future. Communicating effectively, transparently, and frequently will help you to pre-empt and resolve any concerns your employees may have, before it becomes an issue.
How we work
All our coaching is tailored to you and your business needs, we don’t do ‘off-the-shelf’ or ‘one size fits all’. We’ll teach you how to embrace change and how change plays an essential role in shaping success. We offer face-to-face and online training. This can be one-to-one, in small or in larger groups. Whatever the size of the group, we will give you the tools, and the skills to help your business manage uncertainty and embrace change.
