Let Them be Heard

Often in our excitement over a new change initiative we forget that what matters to the leaders of an organization is different from what matters to the employees. In explaining the coming change, we spend the majority of our communication efforts on describing the competitive edge this new tool, practice; product or system will bring to the company. When change is looming on the horizon the employee wants answers to questions like “How will this affect me personally?” – “Will I lose my job?” – “Will my job change?” – “Will there be training for new skills?”. If you are responsible for sharing the change message, spend at least as much time listening as telling and let your people be heard.