Earlier this year, we promoted the concept that the difficulties brought on by the economic crisis created an opportunity for all of us to re-examine our business practices and to focus on the activities that would help us through these times and position us as stronger, more competitive companies when we emerged. We specifically addressed this for our clients in the commercial real estate markets with a series of white papers.
As we applied this to our own business and watched our clients adapt and embrace that challenge, it was apparent that there is a common element involved in managing this process successfully. – The ability to embrace change as individuals and to successfully promote change through our organizations and the people we manage. It can be a daunting task, but successful people and organizations understand that it has to be done.
Peter Stark is a well-respected business consultant and “change management” expert. – He writes that “Great leaders know that to remain successful, they need to change the way they do business–and change quickly. They realize that their success depends on their ability to engage their entire workforce in the change process.” His article entitled, The Winds of Change 2009, details these 10 key steps to create meaningful change in your organization:
- Foster a sense of urgency
- Create and communicate your vision
- Involve employees in the change process
- Remove roadblocks
- Promote teamwork
- Empower employees
- Stay externally focused
- Create short-term wins
- Take care of your workforce
- Keep a positive attitude
Our real estate management and facility management clients hear from us constantly that the key to using our Web-based operations management system successfully is to make sure that it functions as a delivery mechanism for their organization’s change and adaptation plan. Is your plan in place?
