The Subtle Way To Ease People Toward Change
by Lisa Bodell for Forbes
Given the mountain of research and studies linking speed and agility to organizational performance, it’s essential that employees become comfortable with change before the unexpected happens. But in workplaces where it’s tough to introduce new ways of thinking and responding, a proven strategy for building agility is to start small. As in, casually inject the element of surprise into every meeting that you host.
· Unpredictable meeting formats. Beginning with the agenda, what traditional elements could you switch up? Try sending attendees a list of relevant questions rather than the usual discussion items. Or direct virtual attendees to change one item or aspect in their standard background before joining. Encourage focus throughout the meeting by challenging the group to identify the changes at the very end.
· Unexpected settings. For in-person sessions, introduce physical movement to keep attendees engaged. This could mean asking everyone to brainstorm with sticky notes and markers instead of laptops. Or it could mean hosting a walking meeting during mild weather. If virtual, allow participants to dial-in for an audio meeting so people can get a break from screens.