There
are many skills that are needed to manage people through change. To manage
people you need a large knowledge base, a variety of skills and a positive
attitude.
Knowledge
In
order to manage people through the change, you need to have knowledge of the
change in order to reassure colleagues and to communicate openly and honestly
with them about the change. Below I have listed things that people in the
coalition team should have knowledge about.
Knowledge about the
strategies
Knowledge about the reason
behind the change and how it will impact the people
Knowledge about previous
change within the department and the benefits it had
Understand the change and be
able to communicate that
Knowledge about the business
and how it will benefit from the change
Knowledge of the change
process theories (i.e. Kotter’s 8 steps)
Skills
In
order to manage people through the change, you must have a wide range of skills
that can be applied to managing people through the sometimes stressful time of
change. Below I have listed a range of skills that would be helpful to have
when managing people through change.
Enthusiasm
Empathy
Leadership
Respect
Resilience
People skills
Good networks
Conflict management
Communication
Listening
Determination
Problem solving
Diplomacy
Teamwork
Flexibility
Coaching
Attitude
In
order to manage people through the change, it is good to have the right
attitude. If you have a negative attitude about the change, this can come
across to the people you are managing and they too will have a negative
attitude about the change. Below I have listed a range of attitude that would
be beneficial when managing people through change.
Motivated
Ambitious
Positive
Focused
Open minded
Robust
Forward thinking
Confident
Understanding
Approachable
Combining
the correct skills, attitude and knowledge will enable you to manage people
throughout the course of the change in an honest and positive manor thus
potentially reducing the resistance faced.
Throughout
the course of the change within DWP to centralise reasonable adjustment cases
under one name on the system, individuals on the coalition were required to
have substantive knowledge about what I have listed above in the knowledge
table. The team must also have a variety of skills that can be applied through
every stage of the change to help overcome any challenges faced such as
resistance from employees. The correct attitude must be adopted by all members
of the coalition team. This is because if a member of the team has a negative
attitude this can come across to other people and that negative attitude maybe
passed onto them.
