Empathy and Change

Is Empathy the Key to Successful Change initiatives?

Leaders know that even though organizational change begins at one single point, it must catch on like wildfire to be successful. Unfortunately, the research on change initiative success rates is not optimistic. McKinsey estimates that 70 percent of change initiatives do not achieve their goals partly because of employee resistance. A 2014 Deloitte study had an even bleaker outlook, calculating a mere 4.5 percent success rate for change initiatives attempted for the 15 years prior to the study. 

When you are trying to implement organizational change, people may be justifiably concerned. They ask: What do these changes mean really? Will there be cuts or reallocations as a result of this change? Is my job safe? 

Whispered conversations from a worried workforce become the norm, and productivity wanes as everyone wonders why. So how do you as a change agent put your company in a better position to succeed? You want to make sure that you approach this change with communication steeped in empathy. 

Finish this article at the Association of Talent Development’s website!