It’s a new year and perhaps you are thinking about making a change for your business, organization or something more personal.

Change can offer a refreshing and invigorating experience.  For business and organization, change can enhance the overall quality of what you have to offer.  Change can be risky and you aren’t sure if it will be successful or that others will embrace it.

Yet, whether it is a small shift or a major transformation, you know that doing something different will be a good thing.

How then, do you empower the change you are seeking?

Firstly, let’s take a look at what it means to empower.  To empower someone means to give them the means to achieve something; if someone is empowered to do something, they have the authority or power to do it. (www.collinsdictionary.com)

If you are thinking about a personal change, empowerment may include giving yourself permission to make a change. It may also mean that you move out of your comfort zone and face something you may fear.

An organizational or business transformation demonstrates that you are committed to continuous improvement for ongoing growth and success.

What are some of the steps you can take?

  1. Communicate Your Vision

Change begins with a vision.  What do you see, feel and hear as a result of your action?  Communicating your vision by writing it down or sharing with customers and staff will help to realize the benefits of making the change. 

  1. Promote the Benefits

Talk, talk, and talk.  Have conversations about the change you are seeking.  Your and everyone around you will understand the goals and be motivated to work toward them. 

  1. Alleviate Fears and Uncertainty

Do your research.  Investigate the risks and potential financial and emotional costs.  Encourage questions.  Provide opportunities for discussion about changes in roles or positions.

  1. Offer the Experience of Change

Seek input by engaging a neutral facilitator to conduct an exploratory activity based on design thinking – Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype and Test.  This can help with transferring responsibilities from managers to staff and to customers.

  1. Provide Training and Professional Development

Teach about new practices, policies and customer centered approaches. Knowledge empowers confidence in change.

These steps empower change by offering more control, and alleviating the risk of getting stuck in emotions and uncertainty.  It will increase trust in the process.  It may take some extra time, but it will be well worth the effort!

If you’re looking for someone to help facilitate change in your business or organization, contact me today!

~ Lisa