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!