HR Newsletters 2021

Continued—A Year of Challenges: Change Brings Positive

Outcomes, Too

Dr. Krystal Thurman

The topic of change and change management have always been important in the workplace. Search the phrase on the internet and hundreds of articles and blogs will tout the importance of appreciating and managing change. It seems interesting that something as inevitable as change is the driver for much research and debate. Management experts and the like offer guidance to manage change. However, we know that change in organizations and in our personal lives is often met with resistance. Rather than resist change, we can embrace it and apply the three C’s of change leadership: communication, collaboration, and commitment (Willer, Truesdell, & Kelly, 2019, p. 465). First, try to identify the, “what” and “why” for the change. Second, identify ways to collaborate with others when the change involves multiple parties. Third, commit to the change and be brave when stepping into the unknown. My examples above may not be life-altering for anyone else, but they did require change and a certain approach to ensuring success. Transitions and transformations cannot happen without discomfort and a mix of excitement and uncertainty. We do not need to leave change management principles and con- siderations to the workplace. We can use them in our personal lives to ensure positive outcomes. Moving forward, I will remain optimistic about life’s changes, even when the immediate term is difficult.

Source: Willer, D., Truesdell, W.H., & Kelly, W. D. (2019). Society for Human Resource Management Certification . McGraw Hill Education.

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