ONYINYE'S MIRROR ON LIFE

Onyinye OyedeleFriday, May 22, 2015



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COMMUNICATING CHANGE


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hange" is a commonly used word, but it is not easy to implement. Change should be fluid, but it is often static! One begins to wonder, "Why is change not all that was envisioned?" "Is change an illusion?" Change is a process, therefore "Communicating change" is crucial and it should be cushioned with time to see any tangible benefits. Change can be as small as taking a different route to work or it could be as big as relocating to another country! Whatever kind of change comes your way, it is important to communicate that change to yourself or to those who would be affected by it.

One of the attributes of an excellent organization is the ability of management to communicate change to front line staff. Months or weeks of training, brochures, conferences, forums, campaigns, video information sessions and many more tactics are used to prepare staff for change. It would be a blunder to just "dump" change on staff and expect them to comply and function effectively.

In addition, for a change of lifestyle or choices to be effective, it must be communicated to friends and family who can hold you accountable and challenge you to live up to your new standards. Sometimes the fear of ridicule or failure could hinder people from verbally committing to, or announcing their change.

Interestingly, in a family, communicating change to children is difficult. Maybe a change of location, change of daily routine, change of school or just change of an activity! One must be prepared for the barrage of questions, cries, and attitudes that change can create. Sometimes parents "impose" change and children have no choice but to follow. Well, it is really hard to answer questions from children. But parents can only explain in "doses" appropriate for their curious minds.

Moreover, when a nation clamours for change, its citizens should be ready to adjust and support the process. Change does not depend solely on leadership at the top; a collaborative effort from followers at the bottom is necessary to complement change initiatives by leaders. Change is a conscious decision. People should be ready to share the "burden" of change which in most cases may not be convenient or comfortable. Change will make a demand on its citizens, but good change will yield results over time.

It takes discipline and courage to accept and adapt to change. It takes guts and foresight to be an advocate for change. Those who allow change to take its course deserve honour. It takes understanding to handle and manage change. And it takes humility to accept the ideas of others on how change should run its course.

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