How to Overcome Resistance to Change

Brokering respect and equality The stock market is a high-pressure, volatile environment. It’s a dog-eat-dog world, but not at Robert W. Baird. Its employees benefit from a culture that treats every person with equal respect. All offices are the same size, and there are no executive perks. Common themes of successful employee incentivizing programs The above examples are only four of the top ten in the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list. Throughout this list there are some recurring and constant themes. most obvious is that all the companies that are rated as a great place to work by its employees have an open, honest, and value-driven culture at the heart of everything it does. These companies inspire and motivate employees by providing an environment that respects them. Managers encourage participation in strategy and process re- engineering. It is the employees’ business as well as the shareholders’. Most of the best companies to work for also offer telecommuting opportunities, or flexi-time. This enables people to spend time at home or with children when needed, while also allowing employees to work when they are most productive and unencumbered by the traditional nine-to-five routine. To truly motivate your employees, look beyond financial reward. Develop a culture that encourages openness and collaboration, and honest communication. Ensure your change leaders have the emotional awareness to challenge, inspire, and transform

each employee personally, as they pull the team together to achieve the benefits of organizational change. Remember, too, that when feedback is accepted and acted upon, employees will accept the challenges set to them. They’ll more willingly come on board with project work as their motivation becomes the shared goal of your strategic vision. And that is peak performance in action, and how to overcome resistance to change.

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