3 bad change management habits to avoid

Sometimes we can fall into bad habits when working in Change. At times it can be stressful and if these habits creep in your practice it will may compromise your reputation as an effective change manager or as a change leader. 

1. Thinking that people will just do as you tell them.

It makes me laugh when Managers expect their teams to simply do as they say. Many progressive organisations however are showing more emotional intelligence and understanding that people choose who they follow. All people go through an emotional process when any change occurs. A good change leader understands how to support their team through this and engage their people in the change. I won't limit this to just change leaders, as I do hear Change Managers say exactly the same thing. Only in unique organisations where hierarchy is necessary to survive such as in the Police or Military, would the 'people will do as I say' rule exist and apply. 

2. Taking the same approach to change every time 

Every change is unique and every person is an individual. That combination means that for one change someone may be fine, but with another one they may have a totally different reaction. 

Every time there is a change you MUST start from scratch thinking about the approach. What worked before may not work again. For example certain individuals may require more support the second time around. Laziness and complacency can set in when you are implementing repetitive changes. Make sure you are continually looking to challenge the ways you introduce change and become creative to get cut through.  

3. Misinterpreting resistance as negativity. It's easy to do if you are tired. If you are a introducing or leading change you need to make sure you are managing your emotional state at all times. If you are low energy or tired you will react to a question or challenge regarding the change rather than respond. Resistance comes from one of two places - the first is actually a person asking for more information as they can't understand the change. The second place and usually a real minority sit in the bucket of those who simply will not embrace any change.