Big or Small Three Tenets for Managing Change in the Workplace - Your Career Intel

Big or Small Three Tenets for Managing Change in the Workplace - Your Career IntelWorkplace change is inevitableand it can be exhilarating. When I accepted the role of CEO in 2009, I was energized by ideas and opportunities for organizational change. In the past several years Lucas Group has restructured our functional practice groups and leadership teams, rebranded our firm and sold our company to new investors. Those are big changes, and they required diligent focus and a commitment to change management best practices.But from the outside, workplace changes dont always appear monumental. Some shifts in policy or procedure may seem simple and alfruchtwein irrelevant, yet they too can create transformative change and demand managing change in the workplace with the same principles.This month marked one of those seemingly straightforward corporate changes. We pivoted from a geschftsleben to a casual dress codea first in our companys 45-year history. Deceptively simple, this cultural s hift did not come lightly or without unease.Facts First Then DecisionsWhen considering whether to change the dress code, I faced a dilemma Should we continue operating within the policies that have worked for us for over four decades? Or, do we recognize the changing landscape of corporate life and innovate, helping to ensure we continue to lead and not follow?I turned to the facts to support my decision.Millennials already form 25% of the American workforce and by 2020, will encompass 50% of the auf der ganzen welt workforce.Generation Y is transforming global workplaces at a dizzying pace. With Instagram, Facebook and blogging, many naturally share their personal lives with peers and personal friends alike. The lines between our home and professional selves have blurred in the age of the selfie.I realized that requiring daily business attire was no longer appropriate in the casual environment we are recruiting in today. Our candidates and clients increasingly prefer to work with p eople who present their most authentic selves at work. Employees are also most engaged when they work for companies with values that align with their own. We were out of step and needed to recalibrate.Three Keys to Successful Change ManagementAt first, I thought my idea would be met with jubilation. But some members of my team werent convinced. Managing through change starts with leadership, and even seemingly natural modifications require adherence to three, long-standing change management principles1.Communication When I announced our new guidelines, I was direct and forthcoming. I shared the facts, explained my reasoning and expressed my belief that this was a change whose time had come. We were ready for it.2. Transparency Being visible and approachable has always been a key part of my leadership strategy, and a change in dress code required nothing different. In my experience of managing people through change, I have learned that it can be challenging and uncomfortable. If your e not open about it, people will think you have something to hide.3. Reinforcement Leaders must live the change they seek, and in support, I have been coming to work in jeans When I began my career, the idea that I would someday lead a company in casual attire was unthinkable. But every day my own comfort level and satisfaction grow, and Im witnessing that same transformation in my team.Whether big or small, costly or free, change in the workplace requires management AND leadership. These alterations to our dress code are already strengthening relationships and encouraging teamwork. Our metamorphosis from a conservative brand to a vibrant and authentic environment aligns much mora with who we are todayand positions us for the workplace of the future.Have you experienced challenges in change management? What did you learn? Share your story with us.

7 Ways to Set Boundaries with Your Boss, According to Psychologists

7 Ways to Set Boundaries with Your Boss, According to Psychologists Setting boundaries can feel challenging, especially when youre in a situation wzu siche theres a power differential. It can also be difficult if you werent able to establish boundaries early on in your relationship with another rolle especially when that other person is your boss.Though the road to building boundaries isnt always an easy one to travel, there are steps you can take to make establishing them with your boss less burdensome. Using tips from psychologists, set boundaries with your boss more easily by employing the following tactics1. Understand why youre rahmen your boundaries.Ease your dissonance with a list of the reasons why your boundaries are necessary, suggests Dr. Shawn Meghan Burn, a Professor of Psychology at California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo. Remind yourself why you need to set boundaries. If taking calls from your boss at dinner or answering emails before the sun come s up has negatively impacted your personal life or well-being, dont downplay it. Sometimes we put off things because we forget how important they are, but reminding yourself of the consequences of not setting boundaries can make pushing through the discomfort of creating them more bearable.2. Identify your exact limits.Just saying to your boss that you need boundaries isnt enough to establish them. You have to listen to your body to really get a sense of where we should set our boundaries.Those feelings help us identify what our limits are, says psychologist Dr. Dana Gionta. Create concrete limits for what you are and are not able to do. If you have a boss who discusses their personal life with you too frequently, and that makes you feel uneasy, tell them that you dont want to discuss non-work related topics with them.3. Speak with someone you trust.Speaking to your boss about anything serious can create a sense of dread, so its important to have someone to reach out to in case you feel stressed or overwhelmed. Instead of keeping it inside, turn to someone who you can count on to bring you comfort or advice. In these difficult situations, practicing self-care, reaching out to ones support system, or seeking counseling can help tremendously, recommends Johanna Howe, a Licenced Clinical Professional Counselor at Johns Hopkins.4. Repeat self-affirming statements.If you feel uneasy about discussing boundaries with your boss, thats normal. To combat this, work to change your internal dialogue. Further offset ambivalence and strengthen commitment to boundaries with affirmative self-statements, suggests Dr. Burn. For instance, if you find yourself imagining the worst outcome, change the script in your head. Tell yourself that you are strong and capable. Remind yourself that you are prepared to deal with whatever the outcome of your discussion is, and remember the times when youve successfully confronted someone before.5. Be up-front.Even though we know intellectually that people arent mind readers, we still expect others to know what hurts us, says Dr. Gionta. Resist the urge to beat around the bush when you speak to your boss. Tell them what you want and why you want it. If your boss is giving you assignments that you know are out of your range or telling you about their personal life more than you care to hear, let them know that. Using euphemisms or unclear language can lead to misunderstandings.6. Emphasize that youre both on the saatkorn side.Focus on how these boundaries will help you reach a common goal. Howe provides a personal example of a woman in her community who incessantly pushed her to volunteer for more projects than she was able to handle. When Howe expressed her needs, she focused on what they had in common. You know we both really want to make the neighborhood a great place to live, but I can only do one large project this year, she told her neighbor. By reminding the neighbor that they were on the same side, Howe presented t he idea that the boundary was being set for the good of their neighborhoodsomething they both cared about. When you approach your boss, acknowledge that you both want you to provide the highest quality of work as possible, and that can only be achieved by setting boundaries.7. Create small boundaries first.Rome wasnt built in a day, and neither are boundaries. Build upon your success, and try not to take on something that feels overwhelming. Setting boundaries takes courage, practice and support, says Dr. Gionta. Instead of avoiding talking about them all together, work up to addressing larger issues by first communicating about smaller ones.--Kayla Heisler is an essayist and Pushcart Prize-nominated poet. She is an MFA candidate at Columbia University, and her work appears in New Yorks Best Emerging Poets 2017 anthology.