Adult Learner Course Unit 5 - Change Management

Change Management This unit is all about Change Management. Change management is a systematic approach to dealing with change|both from an organizational perspective and on an individual level. Change is a fact of life and brings both opportunity and risk. How people and organizations respond to change can determine whether the change brings benefits or losses. We will move beyond serving others to the meaningful work of influencing others and equipping them to do their work in the midst of change. Companies and organizations face changes every day|such as launching a new product or restructuring the organization. What if they made changes without careful planning? It might cause chaos. Successfully navigating change requires thoughtfulness and organization from the leaders of those affected by change|as well as flexibility and resilience from the individuals experiencing the change. There are six Essential Elements that support change management|which draw from the “Workplace Skills,” “Personal Skills,” and “Technical Skills Grounded in Academics” components of the SkillsUSA Framework. Adaptability/Flexibility: If you are adaptable/flexible|you foster creativity and new ideas|demonstrate resilience and embrace calculated change. These personal skills help you navigate changing circumstances in work and life. Communication: Communication is essential when people and organizations are undergoing change. The communication practices we explored earlier — active listening|conflict management and communicating professionally verbally and in writing — as well as new ones we will explore in this Experience|will help you apply new information|tools or perspective and relate to others professionally during times of transition. Decision Making: Change often prompts the need to make decisions and solve problems both large and small. Decision making skills help you analyze facts and situations and use reasoning|creativity and resourcefulness to generate problem-solving strategies and solutions. Leadership: In helping others navigate change|leaders apply empathy and understanding|put the needs of others above their own|mitigate conflict and motivate and coach peers and subordinates to move through the change to acceptance and improve performance. Professional Development: Keeping your knowledge and skills sharp through professional development helps you better anticipate changes in your field or workplace and adapt to them successfully. Planning|Organizing and Management: In a change management context|this skill balances designing|organizing and implementing tasks and projects to high-quality standards while being responsive to changing priorities and expectations.