Change = Progression
By Leanne Crain

We've changed! BizXcel is happy to announce that our growing staff has "moved up" - literally! We put our heads together and decided to function better as a team; we should all be on the same floor. Thus, a change was in order. However, as we all know, change is a scary thing for most people, and usually human beings have a challenging time embracing it.

So, from our recent insights, we thought we would share some of our keys to successful changes. As we settle in and unpack our boxes and get ready to ring in the New Year, here are a few tips to help you deal with changes too.

1. Start with the basics. If you feel some changes need to take place in your team, ask the team what they think. Beginning at the "front lines", make your team part of the change.
2. Make a "moving committee". We found this particular tool very useful. This committee worked together to gather everyone's ideas and concerns, created a plan of action, and presented everything to management frequently for further discussions.
3. Communicate! Often! Don't rely on emails, memos, or other leaders to spread the word. Your team needs to be involved in this - right from the beginning. Remember, this is the same team who has ideas you may never think of! Have meetings and brainstorm sessions with your group, and don't hide things from them. Provide them with as much information as possible all the way through the process.
4. If you are part of a large firm, a kick-off might be a great idea. Once you and your team have developed a plan for change, have a big kick-off to get people even more excited about it.
5. Keep your views clear and realistic, and connect frequently with your team so that everyone is on the same wave-length. Don't hide things from them, be open and honest and keep those lines of communication open.
6. Create a project plan. Keep it where everyone can see it, and make sure it stays accurate and up-to-date.
7. After the change has been implemented - keep it alive! Spend time meeting with your team and getting updates on how things are going. Address any challenges that are being faced.
8. Reward success! Compliment your team on how well they are adapting to change, and make sure they know how much you appreciate the part they have played in this - from planning to implementation.

Of course, not all changes are going to be easy. Sometimes change can be perceived as unpleasant. Keep your team focused on why the change needs to happen, and make sure they are involved every step of the way. Your team needs ownership of the change to embrace it.

For more assistance with change, and other leadership topics, please contact Gary Gzik at ggzik@bizxcel.com.

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Leanne Crain is a Marketing and Administrative Assistant for BizXcel. Her background is marketing and tourism, and she has over 12 years experience in the sales and marketing field.