Lead Through Change
A change in direction can leave people asking what happens to their work, their responsibilities, and the commitments they have already made. A leader can begin by making those questions welcome.
Explain the reason for the change in plain language. Distinguish decisions that have been made from issues that are still open. If you do not yet know an answer, identify who is working on it and when people can expect an update.
Ask how the change will affect daily work. People closest to a process may see practical difficulties that are easy to miss from a distance. Listen, document the concerns, and explain how they will be addressed.
Choose a manageable next step and review what happens. Name what remains steady, including the standards people should continue to follow. Keep communicating as information develops so the team can adjust its work with you.
Try this week
Prepare a short update covering what is changing, why it matters, what remains undecided, and the next review date.
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