Change can be difficult but it’s the new constant reality that as a leader you need to understand and be able to facilitate. For many people, change, or the prospect of change, generates fear, uncertainty, confusion, or insecurity. To facilitate change you need to confront and defuse these negative perceptions.
The leader that wants to facilitate change needs to develop many important competencies like: empathy, and open-mindedness, listening skills, confidence, persistence, and commitment to a specific vision.
Yet, one of the most important skills for facilitating change is knowing how to utilize the power of questions to help people deal with change.
People can handle change if you can help them answer fundamental and meaningful questions:
- “What’s it all about?” – What is the nature of the change; why do we need to change?
- “What’s in it for me?” – How will this affect me; what do you need me to do; what risk do I face and what are the benefits?
- “How will you help me?” – What do I need to know; how can I get help; how can I be successful?
Because change tends to be a destabilizing force, people at all levels tend to resist it. Becoming skillful in facilitation will help you minimize resistance, manage uncertainty, and embed the effects of the change in the company culture.
Remember. . .
Questions are powerful tools. Help people ask and answer meaningful questions and it will be easier to facilitate change.
Do you know how to facilitate change? Have you developed the art of asking meaningful questions? I help leaders like you facilitate the change process. Get in touch with me today and we can discuss how I can help you facilitate change.
Photo by: Pardesi