Importance of change management

Every responsible company knows that change management is a complex and demanding process. Although it sounds exhausting and stressful, this process, if done properly, can bring far-reaching gains and multiple benefits to a company. In order to properly prepare for change, companies need to be aware of the obstacles that potentially await them along the way.

Change rarely involves just one sector. It most often extends through the overall structure of the company, from the IT sector, through human resources, sales, marketing, etc. The person responsible for change management has to manage several teams simultaneously, which can be very complex, especially if it is a large company. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain quality communication and periodically evaluate how employees in departments communicate change. This way, the company will not have to worry about feeling lost by employees.

Implementation of change takes a long time 

 What many managers point out as the biggest challenge is the long wait for tangible results, more precisely the long-term lack of progress. When a company starts implementing change, it raises certain expectations among investors and clients. It is true that proper implementation of change takes a long time and requires a lot of patience, but for those who are not company’s employees and are not aware of the day-to-day steps taken to make the big picture of change as good as possible, may feel like nothing is happening. In that case, it is advisable to set certain goals and a deadline for their implementation. After completing a certain portion of the process, more precisely after achieving a certain goal, it is important to inform clients and investors through the media or newsletter.

Finally, it is important to make sure that the change makes sense and that its purpose is properly communicated. The attitude ‘from now on we work like this’ is unacceptable in the 21st century. It is possible to abruptly initiate a change or start a new way of doing business, as long as the background of that action is elaborated.