CHANGE IS GOOD......LET'S TALK.

7 Tips for Improving Communication in a Period of Change.

By Duncan Brodie

Change is a major challenge for most organisations. Research suggests that 70% of change projects are not sustained. In a period of change, communication is key. If we are honest, most of us are uncomfortable with uncertainty. In times of change, people become frightened, resistant, go into denial and may even be angry. There is no magic formula for getting rid of these feelings, but open communication can go a long way to reducing the impact. So what are 7 things you can do to improve communication in a period of change?
1. Communicate the case for change
Individuals need to fully understand:
• Why change is needed
• What the benefits are for them
• What the benefits are for the organisation
• How it might impact on them personally
People will have without doubt given a lot of commitment to the organisation, so make sure that you make the time to get across the case for change.
2. Communicate regularly
Once the case for change is communicated and it clear that is going to happen, make regular communication a priority. This can be something as simple as a weekly e-mail or even audio e-mail which:
• Outlines what has happened so far
• Sets out what will be happening next
• Acknowledges challenges or problems that have been encountered and what is being done about them
3. Provide opportunities to ask questions
Traditionally this might have been through open meetings or focus groups and these are still appropriate. Using technology to allow people to submit questions to a central point is another excellent way of addressing concerns and getting insights into what is worrying people. These questions can even provide the focus of the weekly communications, as it is likely that common themes will arise.
4. Provide opportunities to submit ideas
There is a wealth of talent in the organisation who have numerous ideas that can help make change projects a success. Make it easy for people to submit those ideas online or in traditional forms such as suggestion boxes.
5. Feedback on questions and ideas
It is clearly not possible to feedback on every question or idea submitted, but it is easy to group them and feedback on themes.
6. Be honest
People may not like bad news but will appreciate it more than someone being less than 100% honest with them. Make a decision at the outset to be honest in your communications.
7. Train your managers
If people have concerns, their manager will usually be the first person they will speak to. Make sure that you have provided some basic training to managers on how best to handle these communications.
Change is a major challenge and should not be underestimated. Good communication can however go a long way towards making change as smooth as possible.


Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements (G&A) works with professionals and progressive public and private sector organisations who want to develop their management and leadership capability in order to achieve more success. With 25 years business experience in a range of sectors, he understands first hand the real challenges of managing and leading in the demanding business world. You can learn more about Duncan, Goals and Achievements services and products and sign up for his free e-course and monthly newsletter at
http://www.goalsandachievements.co.uk/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Duncan_Brodie

CHANGE IS GOOD.....SOME GOOD ADVICE SURE HELPS.

Business Changes Made Easy

By Louise Abbott

Change in any area of life is difficult, but for the overworked owner of a business that provides a professional service, change can, at times, seem near impossible. Usually we do not make the change until we are forced to or everything breaks down and it happens anyway. Here are some tips on how to make positive changes in your business without the stress and agony.
We want change because something is not working any longer.
We see something better for ourselves, we lose interest in the old way or we are forced to face the reality of how things are not working. The old way does not fit who we are any longer and we are motivated to contemplate change.
Get passionate about the change.
If you are making a change for anyone but yourself, you will be in trouble. Be sure you really want to make the change. Too often we begin a program because we think we ought to or someone else thinks we should. There is no passion in this. You will lose interest, get distracted and run out of energy.
Visualize the outcome in detail.
The clearer your vision of what you want, the more likely you are to line up actions to make that become a reality. Take time to write it out, draw it, talk about it to someone who wants to see you succeed.
Baby Steps
By breaking the change process into manageable steps, we can have success along the way. Nothing can stop positive change more quickly than trying to do too much at one time and then getting overwhelmed.
Track your Progress
Tracking your progress can give you valuable feedback on what is working and what is not working. Some people think that this is too much trouble or takes too much time. Fact: The people who track, do better and reach their goals faster. Tracking means you are serious and not afraid of putting a light on genuine results.
Ask for Help
Why do you need to make this change alone? Enlist the support of a mentor or like minded individuals to form a mastermind group to support and offer advice and encouragement. Why do think Weight Watchers and AA have been around for so long? Both rely on the power of a group to make positive, lasting changes. When you gather your group, or hire a mentor or coach be very specific about the kind of help you want and the kind of help you do not want.
Celebrate Small Successes
As you have success (and you will if you follow this advice,) celebrate! So often we deny ourselves the pleasure of celebrating a milestone on the way to our final goal. Give yourself a break, pat yourself on the back for consistent movement toward your positive change.

Louise Abbott is a business coach and owner of Creative Resources Coaching. She teaches self employed professionals to grow their business using long and short range planning and proven marketing practices. She is the current president of the Tucson Coaches Alliance and past president of a Tucson chapter of Business Network International.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Louise_Abbott

CHANGE IS GOOD.....BUT YOU MUST MAKE THE MOVE

The Power Of Action

By Charlotte Hunter

Have you read all the books in the world about achieving success in life and till now you are getting zero results?
How and when will you see significant changes in your life?
Are you brave enough to keep going and never quitting?
If yes then, let me share with you the important factor that is tightly connected to success. No body can ever succeed without this factor.
Here it is:
"Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit." - Conrad Hilton
It is all about taking action!
Have you applied what you've read? Have you taken bold actions? Are you persistent enough?
The common characteristics of highly successful people are that they never quit and they always keep moving.
They are not afraid of making mistakes. They believe that mistakes are their vehicle to massive success. Therefore, they simply learn the lessons and keep moving.
If you are in a journey and discovered that you lost your way, stopping will not take you anywhere. You have to choose another direction and keep moving.
Being in motion is the only way that will allow you to reach your destination. You can take shortcuts, you can take a faster vehicle, or you can get a map to identify the shortest path. Whatever you choose to do, the most important thing is to keep moving and take action.
Successful people are action-oriented. They work very hard, they are determined, and they are focused.
To rise above mediocrity, learn from your mistakes, keep moving and never quit. This is your secret formula to taking powerful actions that will lead you to achieve massive success in your life.


Charlotte Hunter operates the SelfHelpWarrior website community for people who wish to improve all aspects of their lives. We have many free ebooks, reports, articles and special offers to help improve self esteem and self confidence. Pop over to the http://www.selfhelpwarrior.com site and see for yourself how we have helped thousands of people.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charlotte_Hunter

CHANGE IS GOOD......SOMETIMES IT IS SIMPLE.

Relationship Advice: Change Yourself

By Jeff Herring

In marriage, being the right person is as important as finding the right person. - Wilbert Doanld Gough
Do you know how we often try to change the person we are with in a relationship? We try to argue them into being different, trick them into being different, threaten, maniputlate and even plead with them to be different.
Do you know what the problem with this plan is? You cannot change another person. And what's worse, all your efforts to try to get someone to be different usually leads to the opposite result. It's human nature to want to resist someone who is trying to change us.
This is because the bottom line problem is that the only person we can change is ourselves. And that is tough enough most of the time.
Relationships are like a dance
As a marriage therapist and couples coach, I have learned that I can work with a couple even if only one person is coming to my office or talking to me on the phone.
Sounds strange, but work with me here.
Picture a ballroom dancing floor, the kind with all the steps to a dance laid out in the form of footprints on the floor. Follow the steps of the footprints, and you dance a certaiin dance.
Change just your steps in the dance, and your partner has to change their steps as well.
In your relationship, change some of your steps in the dance for the better, and see what happens.


Visit SecretsofGreatRelationships.com for tips and tools for creating and growing a great relationship. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 10 day e-program on how to enrich your relationship today, from relationship coach and expert Jeff Herring.