Change management: How do you successfully tackle the fear of change?

Kenneth Smit editorial | 09-03-2018

This blog briefly discusses why we have difficulty with change and how you can deal with this resistance. Maybe after reading this blog, you will be able to keep a cool head and think in terms of opportunities during the next change in your life.

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Do you also know that feeling of panic that suddenly arises when something threatens to change? Feeling like you've lost control? Think of changes in the private sphere where we see small children growing up with all the vicissitudes that come with it. They sometimes say that little children have little worries, big children have big worries. But also changes within companies, such as a company takeover or enormous growth. These are all changes that many of you may have already had to deal with and that have a major impact and can therefore encounter resistance. But everything and everyone changes, whether we want it or not. Change is part of life and is a continuous process, the trick is to change along with the new situation. Several studies have shown that we humans really do not like change and therefore resist it. But where exactly does this fear of change management come from?

This blog briefly discusses why we have difficulty with change and how you can deal with this resistance. Maybe after reading this blog, you will be able to keep a cool head and think in terms of opportunities during the next change in your life. Change2Success….!

Fear of change

We often think that the fear we feel is the fear of the change itself. That we get that panicky feeling because we are going to try something new. Nothing is less true. Often that feeling is not the result of the change itself, but rather the fear of leaving the known and not knowing what the unknown will bring you. Now be honest. That stable basis is nice and also provides peace, but secretly we also dream of challenges and opportunities. We humans often have no problem exploring the unknown, we are naturally discovering and curious creatures. The nature of our fear often lies in the fact that you know what you have now, but you don't know what you will get later.

When is the last time you faced a big change?
Do you still recognize the uncertainty and anxious feeling that arose then? Most of us must have felt some form of uncertainty, but how did you feel a year later?
Everything probably went well and you were happy with the change.

Eventually everything comes naturally. This will happen faster for some than for others. As a company you must take this into account. When a major change occurs within a company, you cannot simply expect that you will have implemented this major change without any problems within one month. Within your company you deal with people in all its facets and colors, each in turn dealing with this change.

Corporate culture

An important point in change management is the corporate culture. It forms the heart of your organization and determines the attitude and behavior of your employees. Corporate culture is an intangible and abstract concept and it can be difficult to uncover. If the corporate culture is very traditional, there is a good chance that many employees are resistant to change. Would you like to know more about whether your corporate culture needs to change? Then take a look at this article about it changing corporate culture.

You have probably heard the words “This is how we always do it”. This is a culture formation that probably arose unconsciously. The trick is to look at certain situations from a different perspective. For example, many employees do not know what the vision or mission of the company where they work is. In fact, some directors even find this difficult to express clearly. However, it is very important to get everyone on the same page and corporate culture plays an important role in this.

Weerstand

Resistance is an indirect expression of a feeling of discomfort or even concern on the part of an employee. By definition, having resistance does not have to equal a negative feeling. Having resistance can also demonstrate a strong connection with the organization. An employee may have his or her own opinion about the changes, for example as a result of high involvement. It is important to listen carefully to employees in case of resistance. It is best to opt for a personal approach. Have one-on-one conversations with your employees. Although this will cost you a lot of time, this way you can immediately respond to objections and employees will actually feel taken seriously. By means of to really listen in their opinion, everyone feels heard and there is a greater chance of support for the changes.

To keep resistance as small as possible, it is important that you present and argue for the plans in a clear and open manner right from the start of change management. Explain to everyone the choices made clearly and in understandable language and emphasize the positive aspects of the changes.

Business Improvement

Do you want to apply change management immediately, but don't know how to deal with resistance? Or do you not know whether change management is suitable for you?
We are happy to help you on your way Business Improvement #Change2Success

 

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