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Everyone knows the old saying that change is the only constant thing in life.
But right now in the channel community most entrepreneurs are unsure how to
make a strategic change in the way their business is conducted.
I recently had the opportunity to attend a seminar on change management
conducted by Management Training India where Tony Hunt, a UK-based management
exponent talked about ways and means where promoters as well as business
managers can affect change in their teams.
Some of these might find a resonance with solution providers (SPs) who have
reached a certain level but are trying to find means and ways to keep their
employees.
I have put down some of the things that I feel promoters and business
managers should consider if they are serious about bringing change management in
their organization.
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Vinita Bhatia |
- Skip the priesthood style of functioning where there is a hallowed circle
of a few select members who speak a language no one else understands. By doing
this you end up alienating the people who are outside this circle and who
could be critical to your company's growth. It might not be possible to be
completely transparent about all your plans. But you could make your employees
feel included in them by letting them know the key elements of your overall
business plans.
- Have self-assurance. Promoters often feel threatened when they see one of
their deputies show more potential. Instead of showing caution or fear of
being usurped, harness the capabilities of that person. If you do this, then
you will soon have a strong team of people who are experts in their own way
and in areas that might not be your core competence.
- Focus on the common objective. Like the saying goes, if you don't know
where you are going, any road will take you there. It is best to avoid this
and have a well-planned agenda about where you want to see your company in the
next five years. And if you are the business owner, then it is your job to
tell people, repeatedly, about what the company's goal is.
- Avoid mushroom management. Mushrooms need to be cultivated in the dark and
every once in a while the door to the dank room where these fungus is grown is
opened and some sludge is thrown on the seeds before that door is closed
again. Often this happens in organizations where most of the employees are
kept in the dark and once in a while are told about what needs to be done and
then put in isolation again. Needless to say, these companies have a high
attrition rate. Better not join that tribe.
- Don't expect others to behave in a certain way and don't get frustrated
when they do things in a way contrary to your own. Accept that everyone has
their own perspective when it comes to achieving objectives and you will find
it much easier to relate to your employees' aspirations. Also, just because
some employees have a different set of values or beliefs, it does not mean
that they are against your plans or are being difficult. That is just the way
they are.
A lot of this is good old common sense. But sometimes you need someone to
spell out the obvious because you take cognizance of that. I would like to know
if you think this is applicable to your business house. Do write in.
vinita bhatia
vinitavs@cybermedia.co.in Page(s) 1
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