The Secret Sauce of Leading Change

If you are considering a significant change in your organization, it is crucial to first take the emotional temperature of your members. But new research suggests that few leaders know how to do this.

In her survey of over 200 leading company executives, Patti Sanchez, chief strategy officer at consulting firm Duarte, Inc., found that 69% of respondents said they were planning or currently conducting a change effort. Unfortunately, half of these same execs said they hadn’t fully considered their team’s sentiment about the change.

Writing in the Harvard Business Review, Sanchez offers strategies for ensuring your team is motivated and onboard:

• Profile Your Audience: Evaluate wants and needs at the kick-off of a change initiative…then re-evaluate at every stage.
• Tell People What to Expect:  While you may need to keep some facts private during a transition, the general rule is that the more informed your people are, the more they’ll be able to deal with discomfort. So, learn about your team’s specific fears and acknowledge them openly. 
• Involve Individuals at All Levels: A true transformation won't succeed without broad involvement.  From the top down, give everyone the chance to express how change will impact them, their team, and their responsibilities. 

Do you know how the members of your organization feel about any changes you plan to implement? And if not, how might you find out? To join the conversation, click "comments" on below.

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