Enhance Stakeholder Engagement With A Change Management Certification

It’s a fact that change in the workforce is inevitable but it doesn’t have to bring business to a halt. Change management is a discipline that is gaining an increasing amount of awareness as a way to help individuals transition smoothly through changes within a company. A change management certification can equip you with the skills and knowledge required to assist individuals and teams through changing situations, giving them valuable tools and support to maintain a strong internal structure and confidently manage the impact that change can bring to a business. Read on to learn more about change management and how it can be used to increase stakeholder engagement and communication in an organisation.

What Is Change Management And Why Is It So Important?

In order to grow, businesses must change and adapt to new circumstances that may be out of their control. Without the right organisational leadership, support and communication, stakeholders can find themselves overwhelmed during these times and unable to handle the impact of their changing situation. This can have a long-lasting effect on the overall company with results ranging from reduced productivity and a dip in quality to wasted money and low employee morale. A change management leader can turn this around and ensure all stakeholders are equipped with the tools, techniques and knowledge they need to power through any change as a team and to grow as individuals.

 Take a look at the key components that are involved in change management: 

• Communicating to stakeholders about the change in a timely manner and revealing its impact on the overall company
• Explaining why the change is necessary to the company
• Discussing how the change will affect each stakeholder and their role
• Providing an accurate timeline of the proposed change
• Equipping stakeholders with the appropriate training, tools and techniques they need to manage the change efficiently
• Providing support to stakeholders and a way for them to ask questions and receive feedback on their progress throughout the change

What Are The Benefits Of Change Management?

Effective change management leadership makes sure that a company and all of its stakeholders are fully prepared for an organisational change so that everything goes smoothly. Some of the benefits include: 

• Increased productivity
• Improved communication
• Less stress for stakeholders
• Less resistance to change
• Better decision-making
• Boosted employee morale
• A positive work environment
• Long-lasting impact of change

Who Are The Stakeholders Involved In Change Management?

The stakeholders are basically anyone who has a stake in the future of a company and will be affected by any type of organisational change, whether it be good or bad. This can include internal stakeholders, such as managers, employees, supervisors and change leaders, as well as external stakeholders such as vendors, suppliers, clients, customers and business associations.

Each stakeholder is unique and change will affect them in unique ways. A qualified change practitioner will learn the skills they need to guide every stakeholder through any change they may face to ensure the company will maintain a strong internal capability for long-lasting growth.

Top 7 Ways To Communicate Change To Stakeholders

These steps can help you to effectively initiate change in a company:

Identify Stakeholders

Before any change can begin, you need to identify the stakeholders. Consider every stakeholder that will be affected by the proposed change and understand who can have influence over the change, who can oppose it and who will be interested in the outcome. This can include both internal and external stakeholders and should be prioritised on the basis of relevance and level of impact.

Analyse Stakeholders

Next, assess each stakeholder and understand how they will likely respond to the organisational change so that you know how to communicate with them. Consider their view, whether they will oppose the change, how they can contribute to the change, what they will want to know and their motivations.

Communicate to Stakeholders

Communication with stakeholders is key to a successful transition. You need to practice regular communication with everyone involved at every step of the process so that everyone is aware of what is happening and what their role is. This should be based on 3 phases: 

• Communicate the goals and reason for change
• Communicate how the change will happen
• Communicate how performance will be measured

Diversify Communication Channels

Consider communication preferences when corresponding with stakeholders. Each group may have their own preferred way of receiving messages and information and it’s important to utilise different methods for different stakeholders. This can include written form, social media, face-to-face meetings, phone calls and more.

Model Behaviour and Beliefs

Change management leaders can inspire and motivate stakeholders through modelling their own belief, behaviour and actions regarding the change. This can set a standard for the rest of the company which can boost employee morale and instil a sense of confidence in the change.

Constant Communication

Communicate constantly and candidly with stakeholders throughout the entire process using a variety of channels. Be honest and straightforward in your information and encourage feedback and questions from stakeholders. Ensure that you personalise information so that each stakeholder knows how it will affect them as an individual.

Involvement Is Key

A successful change involves everyone in the company. Change leaders should reward and recognise those who accept the change and adopt the new change behaviours as this encourages others to become involved and demonstrate similar behaviours.

Learn To Lead With Change Management Training

Training Bytesize offers an accredited change management certification to empower you to lead a company through organisational change and beyond. The Change Management Foundation, Practitioner, or Foundation and Practitioner Certification will teach you the key pillars of change management, including people leadership, risk management and digital transformation, focusing on essential factors like stakeholder identification, impact of change and matching best practices to the size and structure of the organisation. Learn online at home or participate in-person with virtual and face-to-face options available. To find out more or to book your space as an individual or as a group, get in touch today.