What! Me?

Have you changed lately?  As managers we champion change.

If we are asking our staff to change, or our customers to change, or other departments to change, can we point to our own changes? Without taking the risk of making a substantial change, we become oblivious to the emotional pain caused by losing accustomed habits and personal landmarks.

Most managers are "of a certain age".  Using social media is essential to understanding the mind-set of younger staff.  If they are living and breathing Twitter and you have have not become proficient, they may consciously or unconsciously question the validity of your leadership.  At least they will characterize "management" as reluctant to change - not a good credential when you next ask them to take a new approach to work.

In presenting information, we develop comfortable and efficient habits.  The human mind likes to be surprised.  People remember things that are different, and managers cannot fight human psychology.  If we want a message to be heard and remembered, we have to devise new ways of conveying the information.  Other managers, leaders, even sales reps are our best resources.  If you are paying attention to their messages, take a moment to note how they attracted your mind.  Adapt their techniques to your own communications style.

Change is refreshing if we ask it of ourselves.  Sometimes change is forced on us.  Demonstrate to your staff that you are developing the skills to handle change and they are likely to learn from you.