Blog Layout
Empowering Your Team for Change
Cathie Leimbach • November 5, 2024
Have you ever felt like you were the only one trying to push your organization forward? It's a common struggle. But what if you could inspire a whole group of people to become champions of change?
That's where the "Three Es of Effective Change" come in. Let's focus on the second E: Empower.
Why is empowering a broad group of change champions so important?
- Role Models: When change-ready team members embrace new ways of thinking and working, they set an example for others to follow.
- Adoption: These role models can inspire and motivate their colleagues to adopt new behaviors.
- Positive Reinforcement: By highlighting successful behaviors, change champions can strengthen desired actions and discourage unproductive ones.
How can you do this?
- Identify Influencers: Look for people who have a strong influence on others. These might be managers, supervisors, or front-line employees.
- Provide Training: Equip these champions with the knowledge and skills they need to drive change.
- Give Them a Voice: Ask them to provide feedback to senior leadership on their progress on inspiring change and listen to their ideas and perspectives for addressing challenges along the way.
Remember:
- It's not just about communication: Change champions should also be seen as partners who can provide feedback and support.
- Be bold: Encourage your team to challenge the status quo and take risks.
- Create a tipping point: Even a small group of change-ready committed individuals representing a cross-section of the company can significantly impact the entire organization.
By empowering a broad group of change leaders, you can create a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Today's workplaces are changing, and managers play a key role in increasing workplace morale and productivity. Research shows that managers impact 70% of what affects how engaged and effective employees are. Surveys show many employees are dissatisfied. They say that expectations are unclear, they don’t feel respected by management, they don’t get enough training, and they don't see how their work matters. With the increasing number of seniors and fewer people in the workforce, increased productivity is essential. Strong leadership is more important than ever. Managers need to develop skills to help their teams succeed. This includes: • Setting clear goals, • Showing appreciation, • Providing good training, and • Helping employees see the purpose of their work. The innovative Conversational Management program helps managers build these leadership skills. It focuses on the leadership practices which boost engagement and productivity. Managers can participate in a virtual Test Drive to see how these strategies can improve teamwork and performance. If you want better results and productivity, REGISTER HERE to join a Test Drive and learn about this highly effective leadership approach!
Rory Vaden, a well-known author and speaker, highlights a common challenge many face: avoiding hard tasks or jobs we don’t enjoy. This avoidance can be one of the biggest barriers to achieving our goals. Instead of tackling these important tasks, we often find ourselves busy with less significant activities, distracting ourselves without even realizing it. Many people fall into the trap of responding to urgent tasks and interruptions, which can lead us away from what truly matters. For example, we might spend hours answering emails or checking social media, thinking we’re being productive, but we’re actually avoiding the important work that needs to be done. To overcome this challenge, Vaden suggests being disciplined about our time. One effective strategy is to decide to tackle important tasks early in the day when our energy and focus are at their peak. By prioritizing these tasks, we set ourselves up for success and make significant progress toward our goals. Staying focused on what matters most is essential for high achievement. With practice, we can learn to recognize our avoidance behaviors and develop habits that help us stay on track, ensuring we use our time and energy wisely to accomplish what truly counts.