How to Prepare Your Team for Change
For obvious reasons, employees like to have a strong sense of job security. When staffing changes occur, it’s only natural for them to feel a bit uneasy, wondering if their own job will be impacted. Whether you’re dealing with turnover, hiring temporary staffers, or taking on new permanent employees, change is something that must be dealt with head-on, instead of sweeping it under the rug.
Even the most change-resistant workers can be primed for new beginnings if you set the stage properly. The way you handle the situation will determine whether your staff erupts in chaos or simply takes the adjustment in stride. As the boss, you have the power to set the tone for change at your company, so make it something that employees embrace, rather than fear.
Be Honest
Keeping employees in the dark about what the staffing change is and why it’s happening will only add fuel to the gossip mill. Stop rumors before they start by gathering your team together and sharing everything you know with them. When you’re open and honest with people, they’ll trust you enough to believe what you’re saying and drop all unwarranted speculations.
Clearly Define Roles
Help your team make the staffing transition by working together to make it a success. If you’re getting a new hire, give them a little background history on the person and what their role will be at the company. Explain any necessary shift in roles to accommodate the new employee and assign each person a task to help ease the new hire’s transition. If you’re losing a team member, work with your staff to divide up each of the departing employee’s tasks until a replacement is found.
Discuss Concerns
Let your team know you care about their thoughts and feelings on the staffing switch up, by setting aside some extra time to answer all of their questions. Staffing changes have a direct impact on each of your team members, so they need to feel comfortable with the new situation. To make the transition a success, you must have everyone’s full cooperation. Settling any unresolved issues now will allow everyone to move forward together.
Request Feedback
Prior to the new hire’s first day or the departing employee’s last, ask your team for ideas to make the process go as smoothly as possible. Implementing staffing changes is rarely easy, so this can help you gain a well-rounded prospective. Keep the lines of communication open throughout the transition, so you can make adjustments if necessary. Instead of hovering over your staff, allow them to be your eyes and ears. For example, a new hire may behave one way around you and act completely different around the rest of your staff, so soliciting feedback is essential.
Staffing changes are just another part of business, so you have to encourage your employees to accept them. To learn more about how we can help you find top behavioral health talent, contact us today at (513) 651-9500 or by email at [email protected].