With 2019 fast approaching, individuals naturally begin to reflect on what has come to pass and start thinking about changes they want to implement in their lives for the coming year. Change is inevitable whether we want it or not. The same is true with organizational change. Technology changes so quickly it is obsolete before it hits the store shelves. Consumer wants and needs change at the drop of a hat. The economy booms and busts with fluctuating fanfare.
To challenge the status quo, businesses need to know when it is time for organizational change and embrace it. Why? To stay competitive, explore new opportunities for growth, and to meet the needs of their customers and teams. Whether you resist change or roll with it will determine how many bumps and bruises your company will endure.
Why is Organizational Change Important?
According to an article in the Houston Chronicle, “Why is Change Important in an Organization?” organizations who ask “Why?” often discover the answer with new ideas and innovations that can, in the long run, impact the productivity of employees and the company’s bottom line.
To make organizational change happen, you need to experiment. If you don’t think your product or service can be improved on–think again. How will you ever know if it can be better if you don’t experiment?
How do you know when it’s time for organizational change?
- Your business has hit a plateau. Your team has given all they can and used every facet of their skill set. Much like the New Year’s diet and exercise resolution, it hits us hard. We are struggling against a current and find the shore no closer. It’s time for a change. Maybe you need to add to your team—some new blood to invigorate—or perhaps you need to develop the team you have with training.
- Your competitors have shaken things up. Competition is never a bad thing, but it may be time for a change. When the going gets tough, the tough focus on what they do best and evaluate the situation. What are your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats? The SWOT analysis can lead to important changes that can keep you competitive.
- Your financial projections are amiss. When your financial picture looks askew, it’s time for a change. Ask yourself these questions: Are your original projections accurate? What forces, both external and internal, are affecting these projections? When you have the answers to these questions, you can work to fix what is possible to fix and make plans to work around the unfixable.
- Employee morale has plummeted. When your team’s morale is in the pits, it’s time for a change. Have you ever conducted an exit interview? Have you ever polled your staff for feedback? These are good ways to test the waters and see where the spoke in the wheel has become unhitched. Sometimes employees leave and never tell you the real reason why. Don’t wait until the wheel is broken and the support is gone.
- Loyal customers have jumped ship. Now, consumers can be fickle and losing one or two may not be a bad thing, but when your biggest fans walk away—it’s time for a change. Number one, ask your customer for feedback. Research reviews on your business. Ask your sales team for their insights. Re-examine your product(s). We can’t all be WD-40, some of us will need to change.
The best way to embrace change is to educate—yourself and your team. Knowledge is power. Knowledgecity.com has some courses for you to consider: Managing Change, Communicating Organizational Change, Leadership Communication,and Taking Inititiative are just a few of the courses that can help your business manage change with ease.
