Embracing Change As A Leader
Leaders who embrace change have a dynamic team with a stronger and healthier culture, whereas organizations that aren’t open to change tend to BE stagnant and vulnerable to failure.
In other words, if you’re not willing to change, you’re not ready to lead.
When leaders frame change in the right way and take action to support that change, team members are much more likely to embrace it. And guess what? The need for change exists everywhere, no matter how successful the company or organization, and yours is no different. As a leader, you should constantly be asking yourself how to improve and be willing to test the waters when needed.
Once you do identify the need for change, reflect with your team about how to address that change. How does your team feel about the change? How can you support them? Do they have any questions?
Next, you must understand that people will be naturally resistant to change, and even if everyone appears to be on the same page at first, it’s going to be your job to usher people past the disruption and create a new status quo. Effective leaders are able to communicate change in a way that takes into account their team’s perspective, including their emotional well-being. In times of change make it a point to check in with emotions and concerns whenever possible.
We know that organizations must change in order to thrive in an always-changing market. In order to help your team (and yourself) stomach change in a manageable way, break down each step of that change into small steps. Do your best to map out any major hurdles and plan solutions for dealing with them.
The more that you map out your path, the easier the road will be!
Are you interested in the concept of change? Join our next in-person Lunch & Learn series as we take a deep-dive into Leadershift by John Maxwell where we will unpack 11 essential changes. The series will be held on Wednesdays from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM at the Winchester Country Club in Winchester, VA. The series will begin on Wednesday, July 6 and end on Wednesday, August 16, 2021. To register, contact Sierra Learnership Collaborative at (540) 348-GROW, email at info@sierralearnership.com, contact us via our website www.sierralearnership.com, or via social media. We look forward to hearing from you!
About the Author
After 10 years in public education, I reached a fork in the road where I could continue to expand my influence by moving into a role in administrative leadership or use the expertise I had acquired to create a unique business that aligns with my passion, helping others achieve their best. Sierra Learnership Collaborative brings to life my belief that effective leadership skills and lifelong learning are critical to one’s success. Growth, leading, and learning are collaborative processes which is where I come in.
So, what does Sierra Learnership Collaborative do?
We provide exceptional leadership speaking, training, and coaching services to youth AND adult learners who strive to experience lifelong personal and professional growth. Today’s youth must be given the opportunity to develop leadership skills early in life and given the tools necessary to make personal growth a priority. Also, today’s leaders must see the need for continued personal growth and professional learning to reach their full potential. So, whether you are a parent looking for an innovative approach to your child’s development in leadership, teamwork, communication, or organization OR a business leader looking for the tools you need to achieve your and/or your team’s definition of success, we will create a plan to meet your specific needs. Whether working with you individually, as a small group, or as an organization, together we will collaborate to achieve your goals.
It’s not enough to hire a fantastic team. If you want to truly boost productivity, you have to tap into the talents of each team member so that they can perform to their highest potential. So how do you get started?
Your team doesn’t have to be best friends with one another, but they do have to forge working relationships based on trust and respect. As a leader, it’s your job to provide the time and space to help build those interpersonal relationships. Luckily, you don’t need a huge budget or an elaborate plan to achieve this. Take some time to work on projects that encourage collaboration, communication, and allow everyone a chance to learn more about one another.
After 10 years in public education, I reached a fork in the road where I could continue to expand my influence by moving into a role in administrative leadership or use the expertise I had acquired to create a unique business that aligns with my passion, helping others achieve their best. Sierra Learnership Collaborative brings to life my belief that effective leadership skills and lifelong learning are critical to one’s success. Growth, leading, and learning are collaborative processes which is where I come in. 
While sometimes opportunities for personal growth will appear on their own, sometimes that growth requires you to go a little out of your way. One of the best ways to ensure personal growth is to work on your desire to constantly learn as much as possible. Get in the habit of asking questions and challenge your perceptions by listening to the viewpoints of others.
3) Give a little love. As a leader, it’s easy to feel as though you need to put on a tough persona, but one of the best ways to keep your team motivated is to try a little tenderness once in a while. By this, I mean being open with your team about how much you appreciate the work they do for you. Take the time to genuinely get to know what makes each team member tick, identify strengths as you see them, and make sure everyone knows that (s)he is an integral part of the team. Are you a team of one? Show yourself some love. Take a DISC Personality Profile and Leadership Style Assessment, get to know your own strengths and areas for growth, create an action plan for continued growth, and find an accountability partner to hold you to it.
