“They don’t have a choice the change is mandated.”
That is a statement I have heard many leaders say especially over the past few months. It reminded me of a question I am asked often: What do you do to manage the change when it’s mandated?
Many leaders and most articles talk about a particular person or group of people as “being resistant to change.” It is viewed as an inevitable part of the change process or a personality or group trait. I frequently hear leaders say, “I like change, but my employees don’t.” As if they are somehow different or more agreeable to change than their employees.
You probably think that the only time you need change management is during a major project. But it’s exactly that reason that so many leaders struggle to get changes adopted.
When I bring up the idea of mindfulness with my clients, I can still get a few eye rolls. I have had leaders refer to it as fluffy or soft. Although I have noticed that’s been changing over the past few years.
One reason for the change is the overwhelming amount of evidence demonstrating the concrete benefits of mindfulness. The economic and human benefits of practicing mindfulness in the workplace are hard to ignore.
