Change Management for IT Workers

In his new book, Beyond the Wall of Resistance (Bard Press), change-management expert Rick Maurer reveals how managers can go about change in a way that engages employees and solidifies commitment. Fear, confusion and resentment can be eliminated or at least reduced through improved communication, listening and follow-through skills, Maurer contends. Otherwise, managers can face the familiar scenario of change being easy to talk about but hard accomplish in productive ways. We've all see in happen: Dozens of employees walk into the company auditorium where a large banner declares, "New Technology for the Future and Beyond." At each seat sits a coffee mug/T-shirt "gift" repeating the phrase. A top manager steps to the microphone and speaks of the company being "on the cusp of great opportunity" with the need to "re-transform the paradigm." The employees may be willing to forgive the wealth of redundant clichés. But the marathon PowerPoint session that follows is a deal-breaker. The audience is lost, surreptitiously checking messages on their smart phones and sending snarky, skeptical texts to co-workers in the room. At this point, the likelihood of success of "the big plan" here is greatly diminished.