In business today, there is nothing anyone can say that is further from the truth than, "it’s business as usual." Probably the only thing that is "usual" is that we can count on more change.

In order for successful change to take place, several things have to occur:

1. Employees, and that means everyone from the CEO down to the troops in the field, must feel and see a need for change. Without that understanding, resistance will be encountered and change initiatives may be sabotaged.
   
   
2. It is not enough to communicate that change will occur and that expectations are different. Management must openly demonstrate and model the changes they expect employees to exhibit. This requires courage and trust. In addition, training may be needed on leadership skills such as helping, coaching, and listening.
   
   
3. The culture, policies and procedures of the organization must align with the vision and mission for the future and by doing so support, encourage and nurture employees in letting go of the past practices and taking responsibility and ownership for moving ahead.
   
   
4. All employees must understand the new rules of the game. Employees must understand their responsibility for their own career development, employability, job satisfaction, and definition of who they are and what they value.

The commitment and loyalty employers were given in the past is rare to find today as more and more employees feel a sense of job insecurity, mistrust of management, and a fear of the future. Developing a new employment relationship may require the employer to help the employees clarify what these new rules are. 

There’s no doubt the corporate dinosaur is dead. But it’s replacement, the organization of the future, needs time to develop. The amount of time will vary from organization to organization. But when it has evolved, the organization of the future will have the capability to be flexible, support continuous learning, attract an independent-thinking workforce, grow with a strong focus on customer needs, balance a blend of in-house and outsourced functions, and utilize technology that provides a network for a mix of "virtual" and "cubicle" work activities.

© Debbie King, Evolution Management, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.