The Top 10 Ways to Leverage Change at Work
1. Find support from above
If you don’t have the support of higher-ups and stakeholders of your company, then you’re going to have a difficult time creating the change you want to see. Find some time to map out a cohesive plan to pitch to the higher-ups of your company, and encourage them to get on board with your plan. Make sure to map out all of the benefits that’ll come from implementing your changes.
2. Plan for disruption.
Unfortunately, change doesn’t always go over well with your fellow employees, so you’ll want to include a plan for lost productivity. Seek out ways to keep your colleagues inspired to continue their work and stay dedicated to the company, reassuring them that the disruption period will be brief and will only yield a positive outcome in the end.
4. Be positive.
Even if there are people who are against the changes you want to implement, show a positive attitude and stay on course with your plan. If you hesitate or show any negativity, you might lose stray from your course and end up not being able to implement the changes you want to see.
5. Communication is key.
Once you have approval, make sure to communicate each step of the way with anyone who needs to be involved or will be affected (and even those who won’t, for transparency’s sake). In this way, you’ll gain the trust of all within your company and will be able to move seamlessly ahead.
7. Consider your future.
When mapping out the changes you want to see, consider how this will affect not only your future but the future of the company. Plan for this while you’re creating your plan, because this will not only be great foresight but will also be appreciated by your higher-ups who will view you as an invested team member.
8. Don’t only think about yourself.
While it’s likely that your higher-ups will be impressed with your initiative, don’t only take these measures for selfish reasons. Make sure that you’re motivated to better your organization—authenticity is key here, and people will be able to tell if you’re not genuine in your approaches.
10. Let your passion drive your motives.
In the end, your passion for your organization is going to be your driving force behind this push for change. Let that speak for itself, and don’t doubt that inner voice that tells you what is and isn’t the right approach.