Change management –sustainable change with focus on leadership

I have entered companies in my role as CEO, where the financial development has slowed down, been unsatisfactory or even in big depth. The easy part is to focus on analyzing the situation and find the reason why from a commercial, structurual and financial perspective.

As a change leader, you can enter with the assignment to “fix the problem,” and then leave an organization with fear, confusion and frustration. I believe in other methods where you empower the organization and create sustainable change and long-term profitable growth. You then have to focus on your leadership skills to succeed.

Empower the organization

1.     Authentic

Have the courage to be authentic and transparent. You have everything to gain with an organisation  that feels respected and trusted, even if tough decisions have to be made.

2.     Build strong teams

Your closest team is your management team. Make sure you are aligned together and speak with one voice to the organization. Make sure that all middle management has the working tools to support the change agenda.

3.     Clarity

Be clear in the messages and the agenda moving forward. Have the courage to take people’s frustrations with empathy but stay clear in the message.

4.     Listen

The answers to find the right decisions are often found in the organization. Talk to all levels, not just your management team. Understanding the issues in the daily operations to find the essence of the missing link and true understanding of where the route cause is to why the company is underperforming, why people are underperforming and what has to be done.

5.     Repeat

You have all the information, have known about decisions for a long time and have to understand where the organization is in the time-line. You are always one step before. We all react differently to change and many people need time to digest. Respect that.