In the world we live in, abrupt change is a fact of life so as a manager, you have to find ways to adapt. With huge changes in technology and the world economic situation moving in many different directions, you need to be aware of what is going on. It could be that the way your organization operates moves in a different direction or there could be a change of ownership. You might find that a rival is eating away at your company’s market share and is not able to stem the tide. Let us look into how you can deal with change as a manager, especially in the prevailing context of Coronavirus Pandemic that is turning the world upside down.

The first thing you need to examine with any changes within or beyond your organization, is whether this is something that you can control or not. A good example would be if your company were planning huge layoffs, you truly have no control other than to let specific people go. However, in case you are all of a sudden presented with new sales goals or processes, your reaction to these are within your control. You might feel threatened by the prospect but with the right attitude, it will be easy to make it work for the best. If you are able to search for opportunities where other people see troubles, you will have a chance to shine during tough times.

Effective Way To Handle Change

The most effective way is to go through the signs of change and plan appropriately then keep focused on what needs to be done to prosper. It may be that additional training is needed for your workers or you will require to consult with others to agree a way forward. You will be most productive if you do something and not spend a long time over-analysing any possible unfavourable outcomes. You can be considered a good manager if you are able to act and you are adaptable enough to move around any miscalculations you and your team may have made along the way.

In addition to yourself transitioning to change, you have to be able to help your personnel as well. You might have some of your employees be somewhat resistant to change. If you realize it is just fear, then you can demonstrate your leadership skills in this scenario. This genuinely depends on the way in which you communicate with people and if you are sincere and keep them up to date, you can gain their respect. Essentially, you want your staff members to get through the challenges, so you have to listen to their fears and show your confidence in them.

As changes take place in your marketplace, you must take measures to either boost your Change Management skills or learn brand new ones as they come along. If you possess the right frame of mind and focus, change can be an opportunity rather than something to be dreaded. The Covid-19 economic effects are calling for a complete rethink of how people, processes and technology are being seamlessly integrated in order to adapt to the “new norm”. It is no longer “business as usual” which implies that a fundamental shift about the concept of change will have to be embraced across the organisation.

Often the necessary skills or competencies to deal with change, does not exist internally, in which case it is advisable to seek the services of a Professional Management Consultancy. Just remember to “do what you do best and then outsource the rest”. Going it alone, without the requisite organisational competencies, can often do more harm than good.