Regardless of your title (remember being a leader doesn’t necessarily mean you have people reporting directly to you), if you're going to carry a message about change, this blog is for you! This is for any leader who makes decisions that ripple throughout the organization. Let’s dive in!
One of the first things to understand about change is this: it takes longer than you’d expect. Seriously—change takes time. And I get it, we all wish it could happen faster (I know I’ve been there many times!), but the truth is, change has its own pace. You can’t rush it, no matter how much you’d like to. It’s a process that unfolds, and the sooner we accept that, the smoother things tend to go. If you’re someone who’s used to making quick decisions and moving fast, this might feel a little frustrating. But when it comes to organizational change, it’s important to be ready to slow down. Big changes need time, patience, and let’s be honest—sometimes a bit of discomfort along the way.
Let’s break this down a little more. There’s a difference between “change” and “transition.” Change itself can happen in an instant, like launching a new product or flipping the switch on a new system. But transition? That’s the journey people go on to adapt to that change. It’s a process, and it’s different for everyone. So, while you might roll out a new initiative in a week, getting your team fully on board and comfortable with it could take months, maybe even longer.
I know that sounds like a lot, but the good news is that with the right approach, it’s totally doable. The key is to be prepared for the long game. It might not happen overnight, but with patience, communication, and a steady hand guiding the way, you’ll get there. So if you’re leading change, just remember to slow down, embrace the process, and give your team the time they need to adjust. It’s in the transition where the real work happens—and that’s where success will come from! If bettering your leadership skills is something you’re interested in, please check out one of our many resources that offers many tips and tricks about how to elevate your leadership skills!
Let’s face it—change is hard! And when there’s too much of it, it can start to feel like you’re constantly dodging things, just trying to keep up. Whether it’s a new system, a policy shift, a team reorganization, or even moving to a new office space, all these changes coming at once can leave us feeling a little... overwhelmed. That’s what we call change saturation, and it’s real!
Now, no one wants their team to feel like they’re drowning in a sea of constant updates, right? It’s exhausting! When things start piling up without a clear plan, it’s easy for people to feel like they’re just reacting to things rather than being part of a bigger picture. And let’s be honest—if your team is logging in late at night or you notice more sighs and grumbles in the hallways, it might be a sign that things are getting a little too chaotic.
So, what can we do about it? Well, planning & communication are critical keys to success. It’s not just about making the changes but thinking through how they all fit together. Instead of tossing a bunch of changes into the mix all at once, it might help to step back and look at the bigger picture. Can you spread things out? Maybe consolidate a few changes so it doesn’t feel like a never-ending game of dodgeball?
Another thing to think about is how these changes connect to your organization’s overall goals. If the team doesn’t understand why these changes are happening, they’re going to have a hard time getting on board. It’s super important to link every change back to the organization’s vision. Even small changes should feel like they’re contributing to something bigger, rather than just adding to the noise. And if communication isn’t your thing, that’s totally okay! Maybe find someone who really loves getting the message across—someone who can take all those updates and make them sound exciting and relevant. Trust me, it can make all the difference when people feel like the change is happening for them, not to them.
At the end of the day, successful change doesn’t just happen by accident. It takes planning, thoughtful communication, and making sure we’re not overwhelming the people who make it all happen. And if we do it right? The team will feel energized, not exhausted, and more ready than ever to embrace what’s next.
Let’s chat about the key messages your team really needs to hear from you during times of change. These aren’t just things they want to hear from leadership—they need to hear them specifically from you as a leader. And trust me, they’ll make all the difference.
We here at Your Clear Next Step hope that through our examples and our advice, we have best equipped you with the tools to better assess change and the hardships that come with it. If this blog and its contents resonated well with you, you might be the perfect candidate for our Change Makers certification program. For more information on our company, please visit our website and feel free to reach out to us through any of our social media channels, or our emails.