The Hero’s Journey in Business

You are planning to change your management team; given the thought process and time involved, you probably have good reason. Whatever the reasons may be, here are a few suggestions to keep in mind to make the transition from old management to new management as smooth and as comfortable for everyone involved as possible.

When changing management the series of changes that take place are as follows:

Step One: Evaluate the time and cost to make the change.

Ask yourself is this change in the best interest of the company? Always keep in mind that when changing management, or making any changes within a company, it should be to benefit the company as a whole as well as the first step to a long-term plan of success.

Step Two: Request the change.

Since a company is generally made up of a team of management, there should be a unanimous decision or vote on the change. Ensure that you have the support of everyone necessary and proceed with the changes.

Step Three: Implement the changes.

The time has come to implement the changes, take this process as slow as possible, and consider the feelings of everyone involved. From a psychological standpoint, change is never easy; keeping everyone “in the know” will help you, not only in the short-term but in the long-term as well. Employees find security in feeling needed as well as appreciated; by keeping employees “up-to-date” on the changes taking place indirectly allows them to believe they are secure and appreciated. Feelings of security among employees are crucial for a productive, stress free work environment, which should be a main goal.

Step Four: Train new management.

Your new management team will be responsible for training their employees, ensure that your management team is capable of building a productive, and efficient team of employees as well as empowering, challenging, and motivating their teams to success.  During a time of change, the manager who can keep their team focused on the work at hand, rather than the confusion or awkwardness of change will bring the most success.

Step Five: Be confident in your decisions, and give new management a chance to shine.

You have made your changes, are confident in your decisions, and now it is time to watch those changes reach full potential. Remember to give your new management a chance to blossom, a good rule of thumb is to allow management a chance to find their “grove” and fit in with employees prior to expecting an increase in profits or productivity. You know best what your company needs, so if the company has a straightforward approach a month or two should be adequate time for management to start to shine. If the job description is more detailed, allow extra time for new management to acclimate. This is after all a change for everyone, and with any luck the changes will run smoothly and you should see the benefits of your changes in no time.

To summarize, change is never easy, but change is inevitable. Taking into account everyone’s feelings, following the simple steps outlined above, keeping employees informed and creating a detailed plan of success can help you minimize the effects your employees experience and maximize your company’s potential.

Good luck in with you new management as well as your future endeavors.

R.F.