Change is inevitable in the business world and companies are constantly having to change in order to find continued success. Change can be both positive and negative, but both types can be disruptive which is why it is so important that you know how to keep stakeholders happy when going through any kind of change in the business. So, how can you go about doing this?
Communicate Objectives
These are the people that have a stake in the business, so it is only reasonable that you are clearly communicating the objectives of the change with them so that they have a solid understanding of what is happening, what they can expect and what the overall aim is of the change. This will help them to feel informed, avoid any nasty shocks and keep everyone up to speed and on the same page.
Regular Updates
Outlining the objectives of the change is important, but you also need to make the effort to provide regular updates for all stakeholders. Any kind of change can be disruptive and cause stress and anxiety, so you can reduce this by keeping them in the loop and preventing them from feeling like they are being kept in the dark. This means that even if there are issues that arise, you should always keep them updated.
Hire an Interim Manager
Undergoing any period of change will always bring unique challenges and can be hard to manage. This is why bringing in an interim manager to oversee the change is smart as it ensures that you are in the hands of experts, it allows managers to focus on their regular work and it is cost-effective. You can use an interim recruiter to find an interim manager that specializes in a particular area, such as a merger or downsizing.
Listen to Concerns
When discussing the change with stakeholders, you must always make this a two-way exchange and provide them with the opportunity to come forward with concerns, questions and ideas. In addition to making sure that they feel valued and heard, this could also be useful for improving the outcome of the change.
Adapt Management Style
When change is implemented, it creates new situations which can be challenging. A good manager is one that will be able to adapt their management style to the nature of the change, which will help to keep stakeholders happy and reassure them that they are in safe hands.
These are the main strategies to use to keep stakeholders happy when going through any kind of change in the business. Change can be difficult to manage and disruptive, but you need to make sure that you are keeping stakeholders happy and in the loop at every stage for a successful period of change.
