Engagement - Managing Change
A Change Management Toolkit has been developed to assist and guide managers with the process of change. It should be read in conjunction with the All Wales Organisational Change Policy (OCP).
A leaflet has also been developed to help staff actively enagage with staff.
To manage change effectively you need to:
1. Communicate and Consult
Develop an internal communications strategy to put across your key messages;
Meet with trade union representatives, as part of the working in partnership agreement;
Follow the All Wales Organisational Change Policy where appropriate;
Know your legal duties, involve W&OD at the start of the process for advise and support;
Talk to your internal and external stakeholders directly through targeted communications, e.g. staff, patients, carers, etc;
Involve everyone in making decisions through effective and timely consultation to:
- improve your employees understanding of the need for change and gain their commitment;
- identify and address employees’ concerns;
- use the knowledge and creativity of your staff.
Remember: effective communication and consultation are always important, not just during periods of change.
2. Understand Emotions
Understand the emotional journey that every individual goes through when faced with change – from hearing the news right through to coming to terms with the after effects. This journey, typically involves feeling:
- Anxiety – can I cope?
- Happiness – at last something is going to change!
- Fear – what impact will the change have on me?
- Threat – the problem is bigger than I thought;
- Guilt – are the past failings down to me?
- Disillusionment – this is not for me so I’m leaving;
- Acceptance – maybe things won’t be so bad;
- Excitement – I’m looking forward to the challenge.
3. Demonstrate Strong Leadership
especially in a difficult service redesign/change management project, by:
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creating a vision for the future;
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linking individual and teams goals to organisational targets;
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setting an example;
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walking the floor and being seen;
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creating an organisational culture based on openness and trust.
4. Engage with Employees
to get the best out of them in terms of performance and cement their commitment to the organisation
5. Solve Problems
Use problem-solving techniques such as:
- force field analysis
- SWOT analysis
- cause and effect analysis
- root cause analysis
- brainstorming
- teambuilding
