[Supervisor Success: Mastering People Skills & Cultivating High-Performing Teams is a monthly series from Administrative Services & Human Resources Director Mary Alice Douglass designed to support front line supervisors.]
Change is always happening in the workplace, and your ability to lead your team through it is super important. As a supervisor, you’re the main person communicating changes, addressing concerns, and helping your team adjust to new ways of doing things.
If change isn’t managed well, it can cause resistance, anxiety, and a drop in productivity. To handle change effectively, communicate clearly and proactively about why the change is happening, how it will affect everyone, and what the goals are. Be ready to listen to your team’s concerns, show empathy, and offer support and resources. Try to frame the change positively, highlighting new opportunities and improvements.
Try this: When a big change comes up, hold a special team meeting just to talk about it. Give everyone plenty of time to ask questions and voice concerns without judgment.
Also, try this: Figure out what specific training or resources your team will need to adapt to a new change, and actively push for them to get that support.
Avoid this: Don’t keep your team in the dark or spring big changes on them at the last minute; they need time to process. And don’t brush off their concerns or pushback; acknowledge their feelings and provide reassurance.
