Cultural Change

The positive effects of cultural change, in a professional environment, are not always instantly noticeable. The world changes and businesses and organisations need to change too in order to accommodate and capitalise on these transitions. 
Sometimes change needs to happen because of the natural entropy that occurs inside a business. When a business entity has been established for a while, there can be systems upon systems, some of which no longer serve any purpose. These redundant loops cause more work than they are worth and become increasingly demotivating. The ‘thing’ that caused them to be created in the first place is long gone. Yet change is challenging. Even once change has been identified as intrinsic to an organisations continued success, it is not easy to implement, and, it is certainly not easy to enforce. And yet it must be done.
So what can ease this transition. Firstly, consult with all who are concerned. It might seem like an overused word, but, it is totally impossible to know another’s role or perspective without talking to them about it.
Secondly. develop and share the vision together. Even if you are a sole-trader run your thoughts past a trusted colleague or mentor. This way, those involved will understand the purpose of this process, both for themselves and for their profession. This way there is always more than one perspective and blind spots are covered. This way there is accountability. Accountability is very motivating: just knowing someone knows what you said you would do can be enough to make you do it.
And thirdly, work with encouragement: it’s easy to criticise when you see how it needs to look and it’s taking a while to get there….. Humans are naturally resistant to change. Change frightens humans. Frightened humans dig their heels in, preferring toxic but familiar old ways, to new and frightening ones. Keep people feeling safe and hopeful and remind them of what they HAVE done instead of what they haven’t, and the journey will be far swifter.
Cultural change is really hard, it is uncomfortable, it can seem ineffective to begin with, but is IS essential. There may be frayed nerves, there may be tiredness as it can be exhausting to toe the line. There may be questions or even despair, over whether this will really work? However, well consulted change, will always need to happen and it has to be better to ease the process with kindness rather than to shove it through regardless. 
This brings me to my fourth and final point. If it is you who is the instigator of cultural change, the single most important element that will contribute to its success is this: Be Very Kind To Yourself. That’s it. For if you consider that as the instigator of the changes you not only face your own fears and perceived failures, but you may well be feeling responsible for ‘causing’ the fears of others…. Then you have best take the very best care of yourself that you can. This is the way to survive cultural change. 
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