Making changes to your office can be a stressful time. Making a physical office change might include a relocation, remodel, expansion, downsize, or plenty of other changes unique to your office. Many times, these changes are exciting! Maybe it’s new paint and artwork around the office. Maybe it’s a new office location with a wonderful coffee shop in your building. Maybe it was a result of your company downsizing or “rightsizing” the office. Regardless, it is on leadership to share this news clearly for all stakeholders involved. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.
Have a Plan
An organization needs to have a clear plan for making the announcement and all subsequent opportunities to share additional information. Having a unified and coordinated front when dropping big news can ensure that it does not appear to be sudden or rash. It’s important your team knows that real thought and effort went into whatever the change may be. After the announcement, have scheduled messaging that goes out with additional information and dedicated opportunities for feedback.
Be Open and Honest
No matter if the change is good or bad, it is imperative that management be open and honest with their team. Share what the change will be and why it’s happening. It’s possible all details can’t be shared but employees will respond better if they feel the company is being straightforward with them.
Be Clear and Consistent
At the end of the day, whether it’s good news or bad news, communication needs to be clear and consistent. Be direct with the messaging and don’t waiver or walk back reasoning. There are many ways to give your employees a voice and opportunities to ask questions. Host town halls, post a FAQs file, schedule one-on-one conversations – whatever the setting, go into these with a plan and stick to the approved communication.
Seek Feedback
Often times employees just want to feel like they have been heard or had a say in their situation. Identify items that the team can make decisions on. Maybe it’s getting feedback on the functionality or flow of the office space. It could be as simple as finding out what sort of break room amenities have been missing. Let your employees have a voice and buy-in will improve.
Share the Positives
Find the positives of a situation and shout them to everyone involved! It’s easy to be annoyed or complain about change. Management needs to identify positive spins and try to raise morale. Let the employees know what’s in it for them or how these changes could be a good thing.
Having a plan for how to communicate both good news and bad news is critical to keeping your team engaged. SHYFT’s project management team is here to help you navigate your change!