Have a Big Idea to Launch?

By Rob Marchalonis.

Before you implement a significant change that will affect your employees, consider starting with a “test” rather than a final decision. If you plan to mess with a person’s “time, treasure, or trust” be very careful, because emotions and anxiety will likely run high. For example, you may be considering changes related to:

    • Time – such as work hours, flex hours, work-from-home, overtime, travel, or anything schedule related.
    • Treasure – responsibility changes that may affect pay rates, employee benefits, added or discontinued perks.
    • Trust – accountability, reporting requirements, workplace freedoms (like personal use of company resources, social media.)

By giving some changes a “trial period”, you can significantly reduce employee concerns, perceived risk, and even resistance. Throughout the trial, get feedback from the affected participants, monitor results to ensure you are achieving desired outcomes, and consider ways the change could be improved. Then, after the experimental trial, decide to:

    1. Rollout the change permanently.
    2. Continue testing the change with modifications.
    3. Reverse or undo the change experiment.

Reduce the Anxiety and Risk of Change

For many changes that will have a big effect on your workers, it’s impossible to adequately understand their reactions, the resultant impact, and better potential alternatives without first testing one or more options. Employers and leaders, use the “test before rollout” approach to make changes more effectively, and maybe more frequently, with less anxiety and risk for your organization, your employees, and yourself.

Rob Marchalonis (Rob@LSP123.com) shares knowledge and experience with leaders to help them increase their organizational productivity and business results. Find more Leadership, Strategy, and Process solutions at LSP123.com

More Business Advice

Business owners, employers, and leaders can sharpen their skills with the content below.

Stuck in the Middle

Stuck in the Middle

Tips for Leaders to Facilitate Conflict Resolution by Rob Marchalonis. Ever find yourself in the middle, between employees or associates who disagree or have conflict? Like good parents and counselors, leaders can play an important role in facilitating communication,...

Sleepless Nights

Sleepless Nights

How I Settle My Mind to Get Needed Rest by Rob Marchalonis. I confess, some of my most difficult times as a leader have been in the middle of the night. Can you relate? As a younger leader, I would often lay awake in bed for minutes (or hours) during the quiet...

Leading Through Crisis

Leading Through Crisis

12 Steps to Guide Your Response by Rob Marchalonis. If you are a leader, it’s almost certain you will eventually have to lead through a crisis. The types of crises can vary, but consider those caused by natural disasters, economic circumstances, health concerns,...

Game Play Mimics Business

Game Play Mimics Business

A Fun Way to Multiply Your Results by Rob Marchalonis. Have you played a new app or board game lately? How did it go? Did you feel somewhat confused as you learned the rules and how to “play” the game? Business leaders can learn a lot from gameplay, especially by...

Good People, Bad Decisions

Good People, Bad Decisions

Ways to Understand and Guide Better Decision Making by Rob Marchalonis My education, experience, and faith have taught me that every person has amazing potential for “good”. In general, I think positively about others and believe that most are well-intended. Would you...

Productivity Plan Overview

Productivity Plan Overview

When I work with business owners and leaders to improve organizational performance, there are almost always opportunities to improve workgroup productivity and results. Among the many ways to accomplish this, one simple approach is to start with the four "P”s: Purpose...

Idea, Hobby, or Business?

Idea, Hobby, or Business?

Questions to Evolve a Great Idea into a Legacy Business. by Rob Marchalonis What’s the Goal for Your Big Idea? Clients, friends, family, and others regularly share their business ideas with me. Usually, the ideas are exchanged in casual conversation to get a first...

Subscribe for Updates & Resources

2 + 9 =