Creating Organizational “Change You (and Your Employees) Can Believe In”

In today’s business environment, organizational change is not a choice, it’s an everyday imperative.  Over the past couple of years, almost every company around has been pulled into a massive vortex of chaotic change and lean times.  Every platform has become a burning platform.

The companies that survive will be the ones that have realized that instead of fighting the force of the vortex, it’s far better to get up to speed with it and learn how to implement change at a light speed pace.

Two essential ingredients are absolutely necessary in creating the type of nimble organization with the agility to navigate these tumultuous times:

1. Leadership….that is strong, positive and focused.

2. People…at all levels who are not only motivated and committed, but also skilled and competent in the areas needed to execute new business strategies from the ground up.

Just what does it take to ensure that these two essentials are in place so your company is ready to face the challenges ahead?

Leadership

One could think of the current economic climate as analogous to being in a war.  Your company is right in the middle of a battlefield with bombs exploding everywhere, competitors firing missiles and tossing grenades your way and landmines only footsteps away.  If this is the environment, then it makes sense to take our key lessons in leadership from one of the greatest generals in history.

Former Secretary of State General Colin Powell has outlined 13 Rules of Leadership as follows:

Rule #1:  It ain't as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning.

In a trying economy, this rule is more important than ever.  It is essential that leaders have a clear vision beyond the present toward a brighter future.

Rule #2:  Get mad, then get over it

Anger has often been called the “energy of caring.”  We get angry over the things we care about the most.  During times of organizational change, it is important for you to coach your team not to eliminate conflict, but to quickly move beyond the heated moments toward productive action to implement the change.

Rule #3:  Avoid having your ego so close to your position that, when your position falls, your ego goes with it.

To survive and ultimately thrive in a scarcity driven, competitive business climate, it is sometimes necessary to step outside of your comfort zone – way outside.  This may mean giving up some of your long held beliefs about the way things should be done in order to try approaches that are new and innovative.