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What are the Different Kinds of Change Management Activities?

H. Bliss
H. Bliss

Change management activities are tasks and techniques used to further successful change management. The best ones will help move a change management plan forward and maximize the change management resources available to the affected organization. Each business has different employees and different methods of operation, so the best activities related to change management will vary depending on the needs of each organization. Change management activities can include serious activities like planning meetings, training and coaching sessions, but may also include change management games designed to move change management progress forward by amusing and engaging its participants.

One important task in change management is assessing whether the organization and its employees are ready for the change to occur. This assessment may happen when the change is just being planned, or it may be an assessment given while implementing the change to determine whether the organization is ready for the next stage of change. Usually, assessment activities in change management involve observing employees as they perform new tasks implemented in the change.

One important task in change management is assessing whether the organization and its employees are ready for the change to occur.
One important task in change management is assessing whether the organization and its employees are ready for the change to occur.

The best change management activities are activities in which everyone involved can participate. When planning change management activities, it is important to consider the people in the organization who might be participating in the activity. Planning physically active change management games can be perfect for an organization with physically fit members, but the activity may be off-putting to workers who are uncomfortable meeting the physical requirements of active games.

Change management activities often help foster a sense of teamwork.
Change management activities often help foster a sense of teamwork.

Communication is vital to successful change management. Without communication, an organization will not know if the change is going poorly. Keeping open communication with those affected by the change can give change manager early notice of any problems, interruptions or complaints related to the change. Activities which can enhance communication during a change include meetings and coaching sessions. Meetings can be small or large, but should be small enough that each person who wants to speak has an opportunity.

Change managers introducing changes to an organization that require existing staff to work with new people often conduct change management activities designed to let employees get to know each other. These types of activities can include name memory games to help employees get to know each other, or they may include games like reverse musical chairs or charades designed to foster interaction or a sense of teamwork. When situations are tense among assimilated staffers, a silly game can help break the ice and give employees a shared experience upon which to build camaraderie.

Discussion Comments

SkyWhisperer

@everetra - It’s very easy in our business to determine if employees are ready and responding to new changes in tasks and objectives.

The manager just reads the daily status update. Every day we have to update a status ticketing system online where we say what we did yesterday, and what our objectives are for the day.

It’s a daily staff notes kind of thing if you want to look at it that way. Some employees grumble that it’s a tool for micromanagement, but management doesn’t see it that way.

They want to know what everyone is up to, and if they’re not on their toes (doing stuff that’s aligned with the company’s direction) they’ll be told in a hurry. It also doesn’t pay for anyone to attempt to lie in these daily status updates. You’ll be found out in a hurry, and it won’t be fun when you are.

miriam98

@everetra - I used to work in a company that did a lot of team building activities.

This was done to help us to get to know each other better and also help assimilate some of the new employees. Fun activities were a part of the program, but we also had guest speakers who led us in ice breakers and of course plenty of snacks.

I don’t know how effective these programs were for the newcomers, but I think in general anything that helps employees get together and get away from their work for a few hours is a welcome break.

everetra

I work for a small business and the philosophy of change management in my company can be summed up as, “Get with the program or you’re fired.”

I’m being a little facetious, but that’s not too far off the mark actually. We have to be constantly mobile and adaptive as a small business and there is very little room for deadwood. It doesn’t take long for the company to determine who is productive and who is not.

Recently my boss called me into his office and told me that I would be assuming more of a support role. I preferred to be working more in the product development side of the business.

He assured me that when they hired more support people I could do that, but for now he needed me in support. That’s all the notice of change you get in a small business.

strawCake

@Monika - Depending on how long it's been since the new owner took over, it might not be too late to adapt some of these techniques for your customers.

I don't know what type of business it is, but I think any business could benefit from an open house. Maybe take one evening and invite all the customers to drop by and get to know the new owner. You could have games and food and just generally put people at ease.

Monika

It is a well known fact that most people don't like change. I think it would definitely be a good idea for companies to have a change management plan in place in the event of a big (or small) change.

I think having a plan like this for customers would be a good idea too. I work for a business that was recently taken over by a new owner. Some of the customers have been coming there for over twenty years and were quite attached to the old owner. They've been having a lot of problems getting used to the new owner and staff!

Maybe if we'd have a change management plan in place for the customers the change would have gone a little more smoothly.

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    • One important task in change management is assessing whether the organization and its employees are ready for the change to occur.
      By: iofoto
      One important task in change management is assessing whether the organization and its employees are ready for the change to occur.
    • Change management activities often help foster a sense of teamwork.
      By: Africa Studio
      Change management activities often help foster a sense of teamwork.