The environment around us has become more uncertain. What can you do as you try and navigate and lead through change?
Recently Jackie Macritchie Elisabeth (Liz) Mortimer-Cassen Jonathan Betts Dianne Lee (FTOPRA, CDir) and I discussed. We acknowledged that the situation we face is more unpredictable than ever before. We are truly living in a VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity) world where the pace of change is rapid and not in our control. Do traditional ways of dealing with change still work? As leaders what can we do?
1. Focus on what you can control. Many changes that we face are not within our sphere of influence. Some changes can be influenced, just be selective in how much energy you use in addressing these. Instead focus on what is within your sphere of control and manage those.
2. Use your experience in managing previous changes. What worked as we led our organizations through the pandemic? Or through the financial crash? More change leadership is required when people and organisations are experiencing more change. Although the changes we are experiencing maybe of a different magnitude we can still leverage our collective experiences. Consider investing in understanding and reinforcing this capability.
3. Listen to people and be kind. More than ever people are looking for clarity and direction from their leaders. It’s important to acknowledge their reality, however, whether it be anxiety or feelings of being unsettled. Continue to support, recognize and involve people and build on what has worked before.
4. Scan the environment and actively identify opportunities and risks. One of the distinguishing features of the current changes that are going is that the environment is swirling and can change back and forth from day to day. So, identify opportunities, risks and contingency plans but consider waiting to respond until the direction is confirmed.
5. Focus on your core capabilities and strengths. Continue to do what you do best, but with an eye on ensuring that what you do best is still relevant in the new situation or whether any changes are required
6. Network and collaborate. When situations are complex it takes the wisdom of a crowd to identify and implement solutions. This counterintuitive action is what leads to the ability to think of solutions for tomorrow rather than simply doing what has been done in the past in simpler situations.
What are you doing to lead change effectively? What more do you need to do?