How to Adjust to a Changing Work Environment

Change is an unavoidable reality in every organization. And in everyone’s personal lives. Depending on how companies handle it, this can either work to their detriment or advantage.

Launched today, The Myers-Briggs Company Podcast has as its first guest Sherrie Haynie, Sr. Director of Professional Services at The Myers-Briggs Company. In a conversation with Melissa Summer, Sherrie explores the psychology behind change, what leaders can do to help their employees acclimate to an evolving work environment, and how anyone can be better at dealing with change.

Change management fundamentals

By textbook definition, change management is a systematic approach that organizations take to plan and implement changes in the workplace. These changes often come with the introduction of new technologies, during acquisitions or as employee responsibilities shift over time.

When planning out a change like this, organizations should consider how it will affect their workers on an individual level. HR should also have a seat at the table in discussions about changes to the workplace because of their direct connection with workers at the company. Here are a few questions to ask when considering employees' needs:

• What new skills/training will employees need?
• Will this change align with workers’ values?
• Do employees’ job descriptions still reflect the work they are doing?

Connecting with workers

For a change management program to succeed, employees at all levels need to champion the change. This starts at the top. Leaders in the workplace need to stay connected with their employees, especially during these times.

Any big changes to company culture are going to come with their share of questions and employers need to be willing to make time for employees to voice their concerns. Beyond that, leaders should take care to set an example and serve as role models for others in the organization.

Personality type and change

When developing a change management plan, some organizations struggle to take their eye off the big picture and consider the needs of individual employees.

This is where understanding personality types can help.

Each individual reacts to change in a unique way — while some people may enjoy a change of pace for its own sake, others thrive on consistency. Being conscious of individual preferences can help organizations ensure that all voices are heard in both the planning and implementation stages of change management.

In the end…

Although each change in the workplace is unique, organizations still have a wide range of tools and strategies available to help develop and execute an effective change management program. One pitfall companies sometimes stumble into while creating change management initiatives is focusing only on the initial shift, without considering the long-term effects.

How will these changes impact employee well-being?

Have employees been equipped with the tools they need to succeed?

In a sense, the real work of change management begins after the fact.

For a more in-depth look at effective change management in the workplace, check out this conversation with Sherrie Haynie on The Myers-Briggs Company Podcast.

Stay tuned for the next episodes!

Want to learn more about psychology and managing change? Download Psychology of Change in the Hybrid Workplace here.