Meta Description: Change is at the heart of everything we do both in our personal lives and we need guidance to understand why we change and its importance in our growth and development. Let’s see why leadership must maintain a human element in change management.
All too often, companies become fixated on the transformation itself, neglecting the people and culture that are essential for a successful transition.
It is often said that change is the only constant in life. From the moment we are born to the day we leave this world, we continually experience and navigate change – whether willingly or not.
In light of this, one critical aspect that deserves our utmost attention is the human touch, empathy and emotional intelligence that make change initiatives more impactful and sustainable.
It’s time for us to delve into this idea to understand its weight in change management and why we should prioritise it for organisational success.
Let’s dive deeper and see why the human touch is crucial in team building and leadership support!
People-Driven Change
At its core, change management is about people and culture. Therefore, those implementing it must always keep the people involved at the forefront of their minds. When people are empowered and encouraged to take ownership of the change and transition support, they become more motivated and engaged in what needs to be done.
Let me explain with an example. Imagine you work in a company that’s implementing a new software system. You’ve been using the old system for years and are comfortable with it. You know where everything is, and you don’t want to learn a new system. But your boss tells you that you have no choice. You have to use the new system.
This is where change management comes in. Your boss needs to explain why the company is implementing the new system. They must show how it will benefit you, the company, and the customers. They must give you training and support to help you transition to the new system. They need to listen to your concerns and address them.
Why The Human Touch Is Essential In Change Management
Change management is not just about implementing a new system or process. It’s about people. People are the ones who have to use the new system or process. People are the ones who have to adapt to change. If they are not engaged, don’t understand the why behind the change, and don’t feel supported, the change will fail. And no amount of fancy technology or process improvement will fix that.
How To Make Change Management Personalised?
Adding the human touch in change management is about treating people like people, not like robots. It’s about communicating with them, listening to them, and supporting them.
Here are some tips on how to add the human touch to change management:
- Communicate early and often: Don’t wait until the last minute to communicate the change. Start communicating as early as possible, and keep the communication going throughout the process.
- Explain the why behind the change: People need to understand why the change is happening. They need to see the big picture and how it will benefit them.
- Provide training and support: People need training and support to adapt to the change. Don’t assume they will figure it out on their own.
- Listen to feedback: People will have concerns and feedback. Listen to them and address their concerns.
The human touch in change management increases engagement and buy-in from employees. It reduces resistance to change. It improves the success rate of the change. And it creates a positive culture where people feel valued and supported.
Rounding Up
The leadership is responsible for creating change management plans that embrace the human touch. Doing so enables an emotionally secure path of change and transition, allowing the workforce to better integrate the change while feeling accepted, appreciated and genuinely supported.
By adopting a more conversational tone, we can highlight the importance of actively involving employees in these processes, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are met. A more empathetic approach not only fosters a healthier work environment but also leads to a smoother, more effective change for everyone involved
The future of change management lies in fully understanding this need for human interaction—the time has come for us to recognise that change is best achieved when both head and heart are aligned. So incorporate an empathetic and humane change management approach in your organisation before AI takes over!
By Keye Oduneye @ Keye.online
