26 Feb
If you keep any sort of pulse on the news and social media, you have without a doubt seen a story, or two, or ten about a return to office nightmare. No chairs, not enough desks, no monitors or keyboards (you have to bring the ones you originally brought with you to work from home), no building access, office spaces dirty and unstocked, the stories go on.
These failures by many companies is a big lesson in what unsuccessful change management looks like.
In any transition, change management is critical. We didn’t really get much of a heads up in 2020 when all of a sudden all of us had to start working from home, no questions asked, just make it work.
Oh and your kids, spouses, families, roommates, whoever it is you live with, are all going to be home with you too, working, homeschooling, etc. Despite all of this, we made it work, but we had to.
Many companies are now instituting mandatory days back in the office or a 100% return to office policy. The difference is, there is no need for the change to be sudden this time around. There is no reverse pandemic forcing people out of their homes and into office buildings.
These companies should be intentional about making this transition (since they chose it) smooth and successful. They need to ensure the process is well-paced and carefully managed to avoid another big shock on everyone’s system.
Most of us finally got used to working from home a few years ago and the thought of going back to an office sounds, to put it mildly, awful. So it is even more important that these companies conduct change management right this time, because they have the time. And guess what? Returning to the office is yet another big change that should be based on change management principles and managed as such.
Set up appropriate office spaces, restock the office, clean the office, plan some fun lunches, events, happy hours, etc. for the first few months, manage employee expectations, answer questions proactively, address concerns, communicate policies, flexibility, work expectations and communicate WHY this change is happening.
Effective and successful change management, looks like this:
- A well-defined vision and plan that outlines the reasons for the change, goals, and desired outcomes helps align everyone involved.
- Leaders actively champion the change, providing support and resources, which helps build trust and commitment among employees.
- Open, transparent, and consistent communication about the change process, its impact, and progress fosters understanding and reduces resistance.
- Engaging stakeholders throughout the process, including employees at all levels, ensures their concerns are addressed and their input is valued.
- Establishing channels for feedback allows employees to voice their thoughts and experiences, which can be used to make adjustments and improvements during the transition.
Now for the companies who really want to do this right, here are a two more things to consider
- Culture and Values Alignment: Is RTO or a hybrid model right for you?
- Measurement and Evaluation: Continuously evaluate if the change you made was right.
What change management success or horror stories do you have?