Back in 2021, I wrote a blog post about how I sometimes work with leaders who are in the “I’m here, where are you?” stage when they’re communicating change.
Luis Quintero, Pexels
This is my shorthand for leaders who have been immersed for some time in the ‘change thing’ they’re going to communicate. They sometimes forget that the people they’re communicating with won’t have the same level of knowledge as them. It’s almost like people are talking on two different frequencies and they can’t really hear or understand each other.
When you’re in a global organisation that’s rolling out a change across multiple regions – a restructure for example - the demand for leaders to be talking on the same frequency as their teams, increases.
Rules and regulations in different regions could mean that different circumstances might apply. In some areas, the announcement of a restructure can be followed by a period of consultation which takes time. In others, change can happen very quickly and people leave the organisation rapidly. People often don’t have time for a proper goodbye. Whatever the approach, uncertainty and disruption can affect both those impacted and those left behind. People can be at very different stages at the same time.
It’s worth remembering that wherever any teams are located, it’s very likely that they’ll be aware of exactly what’s happening in other parts of your organisation. That’s how things work.
It’s vital that in this situation, leaders keep listening to what’s going on across the entire team – not just by region – and reflect this in their communication. Being empathetic in tone, body language and the words you use will make a big difference.
If you want people to operate at their best, whatever the stage of the change they’re experiencing, whether they’re impacted directly or indirectly or wherever they’re located, keep listening. And make sure you’re communicating in the right tone for everyone.
For ideas on how to make sure you take your people with you and don’t lose them along the way, sign up to my regular updates, or get in touch to talk about how I can help you make change easier in your organisation