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März06
2025
6 simple tips to elevate your virtual change communication.
Remember the water-cooler conversations, impromptu meetings and kick-off events? That was not long ago. But with the sudden shift to video conferencing and virtual collaborative tools, we must reinvent how we communicate. And to succeed as Change Managers we have to master the new communication channels. Fear not. Best practices are emerging. Here are 6 simple tips to help you take communication to the next level. The channels have changed, so should your communication The basics of communication, with a big twist. You know that communication for change is a campaign in and of itself. One that involves delivering the right message to the right audience, at the right time, through the right channel. Getting everyone on the same page and on board requires an intentional and structured communication strategy. But Covid-19 has disrupted one basic parameter – the channels. Online communication? Non-verbal on the line. ...
Written by
Morten Kamp Andersen -
März06
2025
7 communication tips in times of uncertainty.
It’s not over yet. Vaccines are rolling out, but many countries continue to battle with Covid-19. These are uncertain times. Uncertainty makes people feel vulnerable, confused, and looking for directions. And without clear guidance, resistance spreads like wildfire, which can lead to organisational paralysis. The cure? Effective communication. Your role as a manager and leader is to create a supportive and reassuring environment. How? Know that communication for uncertainty requires to do things differently from the way you normally would. Understand what uncertainty does to the people. And use these seven tips to align your communication efforts. From difficult emotions to resistance: what uncertainty does to us What do leaders tend to focus on in times of uncertainty? Processes, tasks, immediate action. They fall into the tunnel vision trap. They forge ahead, driven by a sense of urgency. And their staff can be left behind, immerse in a ...
Written by
Morten Kamp Andersen -
März06
2025
Seven tips for managing resistance in Covid-19.
Resistance is a natural reaction to change. It happens when people pause to understand and evaluate what this means for them. And there are always good reasons why people resist. Often it is due to poor leadership or poor change management. We can influence both. Resistance takes new forms in Covid-19 and can be more difficult to identify and manage. You need the same "tools"[1], but you must switch formats and double down on your efforts. A hybrid workplace and a new focus on safety call for adjustments to the way we deal with resistance. But as always, the more proactive and empathetic the approach, the easier it will be to avoid the further development of resistance. Three new resistance challenges Covid-19 is too big a change to handle. People resist for a good reason. And there is no shortage of reasons in an anxiety-inducing context ...
Written by
Morten Kamp Andersen -
März06
2025
Use individual purpose to drive change in Covid-19.
Organisations are facing a tactical and logistical nightmare. All energies are focused on safely returning to the workplace, recovering or simply holding tight. “Is this really a time to talk about individual purpose?” you might ask. Yes, now is exactly the time to focus on individual purpose. Today’s biggest challenge is to maintain employee engagement in a disrupted and anxiety-ridden work environment, promoting well-being and building resilience. Not just to stay afloat. Not just to keep an edge. Individual purpose is the lever to manage change and emerge stronger. It is, therefore, more important than ever. 3 reasons why leveraging individual purpose should be part of the business playbook now Because people need to find something “in there for them”. Let’s go back to the basics. The WIIFM (What’s In It For Me question has been a staple in Change Management from the early days. People need ...
Written by
Morten Kamp Andersen -
März06
2025
Covid-19 has changed ‘effective sponsorship’. Here is how.
Do you know what #1 success factor is for any change initiative? I bet you guessed it. It is having a fully committed and visible sponsor. This has been true for as long as it has been researched. Sponsors can make or break a change. And Covid-19 will significantly amplify their impact, for better or for worse. Successful change demands effective sponsorship. Crisis-led change demands even more and better sponsorship. We know that sponsors must be Active, Build coalitions and Communicate directly with employees. That has not changed. But Covid-19 presents leaders with new challenges. Let’s look at what they are … without overlooking the fact that disruption also brings opportunity. New skills, same roles … and more important Some behaviours have become more critical than others in a world grappling with uncertainty and operating on new hybrid ground. Effective sponsors must mirror the traits of “adaptive ...
Written by
Morten Kamp Andersen -
März06
2025
4 simple steps to craft a compelling “why” for your change.
You carefully explained what was going to change, and how. You repeated and reframed the message, many times. But to no avail. Resistance to change is a hard thing to beat, and the biggest cause of project failure. You need to shift the conversation. Here is the trick: don´t tell them what you are doing, tell them why you are doing it. A compelling why is all it takes to galvanise people into action and make change happen. The following model designed by our partner PROSCI guides you through the process of crafting the story of change. A simple, straightforward, yet highly effective method to get it right the first time around. The story of change, in a nutshell. The model is divided into four sections, each one targeting a specific set of arguments. You should start with the logical aspect of the “why”. But no not dwell ...
Written by
Morten Kamp Andersen -
März06
2025
Back to work after Covid-19: The importance of defining the impact of change.
In our previous post, we emphasized the importance of empathy mapping in extreme circumstances such as Covid-19. Organizations now face the urgent task of redesigning the working environment in accordance with new sanitary regulations. Many employees have probably expressed concerns over the post-lockdown workplace rules and wider consequences of the crisis. Clearly defining the impact of change, and co-creating the roadmap with collaborators where possible, is key. Here is another essential tool to respond to Covid-19 related challenges and help people push past resistance. 10 working areas, different impacts. When asked to consider the potential advantages of highlighting the impact of change, participants in one of our recent webinars offered insightful answers: less rejection, greater efficiency and likelihood of success, coalition building, change reinforcement, better engagement, sensemaking… These are just a few key points that make a compelling case for defining the impact of change before taking any ...
Written by
Renaud de Lombaert -
März06
2025
Empathy mapping: a particularly valuable tool in times of crisis
Covid-19 has disrupted the workplace and upended routines in the blink of an eye. As governments relax lockdown measures, companies are pushed in the back to reshape the workspace in compliance with sanitary standards. For many employees, uncertainty translates into anxiety. Health concerns still loom large, but the sense of moving into unchartered territory can be equally unsettling. What will the atmosphere be like with less colleagues around, strict distancing rules and the compulsory wearing of masks? What if I am redeployed into a role? … The list goes on. Our partner PROSCI has drawn attention to empathy mapping[1] as an extremely valuable tool to navigate the “new normal”, by putting people first. Here is a way you could improve the response to the crisis. Mapping out thoughts and feelings. Empathy is the ability to understand another person´s feelings and experience. A visual and collaborative tool pioneered by ...
Written by
Renaud de Lombaert -
März06
2025
How you keep people motivated, connected and disciplined in COVID-19 extreme circumstances.
When a client asked “How do we maintain a sufficient level of connection with our team members – working from home? And, how do we keep them motivated, involved and disciplined?”, we thought the answer could be of broader interest as we are all facing weeks of uncertainty, anxiety and confusion. These are characteristics of any major change. And all of them are at play these weeks – massively. As with any major change, we need to manage the transition. We need to take care of our health and the health of our business. And at the heart of both are people. People who are concerned and confused. But at the same time we are required to perform in an entirely new way to minimise the effects of Covid-19 on our business. But before I – for purely structural reasons – divide the question into social and business ...
Written by
Anna Balk-Møller