Change in an Organization
Scenario: Imagine the days before COVID when we were all in a classroom. Do you remember back then? Well, think about where you decided to sit in a classroom. Did you find that you usually chose the same seat in most of the classrooms that you were in? If not, then what usually made you choose the seat that you decided to sit in? Now if you were to sit in a seat in the first class, how likely were you to sit in the same seat after that? Have I made a point? So change is hard, and we all have gone through some kind of change, small or large, in our lives at school, at our workplace, and at home.
Instructions:
Read the information above and then answer the following questions:
Describe what the circumstances were at your workplace when you had to change something
How did you adjust to the change?
Were there colleagues that could not adjust to the change?
Why do you think, in terms of change theory, that there were colleagues that could not adjust?
Sample Solution
I used to work as a software engineer at a large tech company. A few years ago, the company was acquired by another company, and there was a major reorganization. My team was disbanded, and I was assigned to a new team.
The new team was working on a different product than the team I was on before. I also had a new manager and new teammates. This was a major change for me, and it took some time to adjust.
Full Answer Section
How I adjusted to the change I knew that I needed to be flexible and adaptable in order to make the transition to the new team. I also knew that it was important to be open-minded and willing to learn new things. I started by meeting with my new manager and teammates to learn more about the team's goals and objectives. I also asked them about their expectations for me. I spent some time learning about the team's product and the codebase. I also made an effort to get to know my new teammates on a personal level. I ate lunch with them and went to social events with them. This helped me to build relationships with them and to feel more comfortable on the team. Were there colleagues that could not adjust to the change? Yes, there were a few colleagues who could not adjust to the change. They were resistant to the new team's goals and objectives. They were also reluctant to learn new things. As a result, they were not able to perform their jobs as well as they could have. They were also not able to build relationships with their new teammates. Why do I think, in terms of change theory, that there were colleagues that could not adjust? There are a number of reasons why some colleagues may not be able to adjust to change. These reasons include:- Lack of understanding: Some colleagues may not understand the need for change or the benefits of change. This can make it difficult for them to accept the change and to adjust to it.
- Fear of the unknown: Some colleagues may be afraid of the unknown and the uncertainty that comes with change. This can make them resistant to change.
- Lack of support: Some colleagues may not feel supported by their managers or teammates during change. This can make it difficult for them to adjust to the change.
- Personal factors: Some colleagues may have personal factors that make it difficult for them to adjust to change. For example, they may be going through a difficult time in their personal lives, or they may have a personality type that makes them less adaptable to change.
- Communicate the need for change: It is important to communicate the need for change to colleagues in a clear and concise way. The benefits of change should also be communicated.
- Provide training and support: Colleagues should be provided with the training and support they need to adjust to the change. This may include training on new skills or processes, or providing them with emotional support.
- Be flexible and patient: It is important to be flexible and patient with colleagues during change. It takes time for people to adjust to change.