change

Change Management Starts with You!

Posted on by Seniye Groff

Why is it that change is so difficult for people to master?  I believe that change is about loss of control.  Same old, same old creates a comfortable blanket of habit.  Habit allows us to operate on “auto pilot”.  So how can companies help employees with the control loss?  Lots!  Some of my ideas include:

  • Communicate early and often!  You truly cannot over communicate.  Use a variety of methods: open forums. newsletters, games etc.
  • Consider asking a group of employees what some obstacles might be, and then create an FAQs page addressing each of those questions.  And continue to update the list when real-time questions occur.
  • Make change part of the fabric of your company’s culture.  Discuss change openly and even create fun events around little change.  This arms your employees with practice before big, important change really happens.
  • Create a pilot group and have them involved in all aspects of the upcoming change.  They can alert management to items that were missed or not considered and they will become your change advocates down the road.
  • Execute well.  There is nothing worse than poor delivery to hinder momentum for your organizational change.

What have you seen in your workplace that helped change happen successfully or likewise, a dud?  Let me know!

Love Learning, Love Change

Posted on by Seniye Groff

I love to learn new things.  I love change.  That point of discomfort is when I know I am forcing myself out of “comfort zone”.  I know that most people try to stay as far away as possible from that discomfort zone, but I guarantee that if you are willing to color outside the lines once in a while, you will be amazed at how many new things you can learn. 

Here are some ways that I try to erase the ordinary, both at work and in my personal life:

  • I try at least two new recipes a week.
  • I try to have lunch or coffee with someone I haven’t met at least once a month.
  • I have a list of things I want to learn how to make.  I have mastered cheese, yogurt and bread and my next thing is roasting my own coffee beans.  I will be able to check that item of my list next Saturday, by the way!
  • I read voraciously and read a varied reading list.
  • I volunteer a lot and with a variety of organizations with various missions.
  • I have eclectic interests which means I have an eclectic group of friends and acquaintances which means I am exposed to a wide variety of views, interests and knowledge.
  • I love to travel.  Nothing will get you out of your comfort zone faster than going somewhere that doesn’t speak English!
  • I attend all sorts of webinars on a variety of topics…they cost nothing but my time and I usually garner at least one new nugget of information, thought or idea.