How can you encourage employee buy-in during a culture change?
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Changing your organizational culture can be a daunting task, especially if you want your employees to embrace and support the new vision and values. How can you encourage employee buy-in during a culture change and avoid resistance, confusion, or apathy? Here are some tips to help you communicate, engage, and motivate your staff during a culture transformation.
Before you launch any culture change initiative, you need to clearly articulate the purpose, the goals, and the process of the change. Why do you need to change your culture? How does it align with your mission, vision, and strategy? How will you measure and monitor the progress and outcomes? How will you involve and empower your employees in the change? Answering these questions will help you create a compelling and coherent narrative that explains the rationale and the benefits of the change, both for the organization and for the individual.
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Mahendra Makwana
Organization Change is critical; Culture change is difficult one. It is a result of countless efforts; correct mixture of methods deployed by the passionate and committed individuals towards the change. Since it is slow, requires lots of efforts and patience in convincing people for the need of change. Communicating with all using all the available mediums are important. However, key is to engage and involve all,I believe. There is no single window solution to bring the desired culture change since its dynamic and slow. Leadership has to keep a watch and take situational decisions in terms of altering, re-aligning strategy. When the intentions are right, change cycle is transformed in the joyous journey and will yield the desired results.
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Noemi Azzolina
Digital Learning Project Manager @ Anglo American | Streamlining Digital Education for Global Impact
To get employee buy in I always put myself in their shoes and asked myself: what’s in it for me? Engaging with and understanding my target audience, their challenges, their motivations, helps me communicate the added value that change can bring in a way that resonates with them and creates space for a conversation, reducing fear and rejection.
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AJ Gaskin
*People*Diversity*Culture*Inclusion*
To get employee buy in, I always answer the way and communicate clearly the need for the change. I found that in having employees understand why the change, they become the change ambassadors and actually facilitate the change. Change can be tough because it forces people out of their normal routine or comfort zone. It is scary for most people when they do not see the outcome of the change. That is why it is necessary to always communicate to the very last person 'the why' and the benefits that come with it.
Communication is key to any successful change management effort, and culture change is no exception. You need to communicate your culture change message consistently, frequently, and transparently across multiple channels and formats. Use stories, examples, and testimonials to illustrate and reinforce the desired culture and behaviors. Invite feedback, questions, and suggestions from your employees and address them promptly and respectfully. Acknowledge the challenges, uncertainties, and emotions that may arise during the change and provide support and guidance to help your employees cope.
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Bahruz Babayev
Group HR Manager at ABSHERON Hotel Group
During the cultural change /transformation. Main point is close communication with team give them clearly understand where we go and why we need this. Life sessions and with images / posters / email signatures/ and messages must come from top to down
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Herman Cortez
Freelance | Employee Relations | Process Improvement
• Clearly communicate the purpose and benefits of the change. • Involve employees in shaping the new culture and value their input. • Provide training, resources, and support for adaptation. • Lead by example and recognize those embracing the change. • Be patient, address concerns, and celebrate achievements along the way. Obtaining buy-in for an operational change is one thing, but gaining buy-in for a culture change is a different challenge altogether. While the five key points mentioned earlier apply to both types of changes, culture change often involves a deeper shift in values, beliefs, and behaviors, which can be more complex and emotional. It requires ongoing commitment, and patience
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Naomi Grainger
HEAD OF PEOPLE at WeQual
Communication is the keys to any successful colleague buy-in; this is a two-way street and if lacking is the definite point of disengagement for colleagues if the are listened to but not heard
One of the best ways to encourage employee buy-in during a culture change is to involve and engage them in the design and implementation of the change. Seek input and ideas from your employees on how to define and shape the new culture and values. Create cross-functional teams, task forces, or committees to lead and champion the change initiatives. Recognize and reward your employees for their contributions and achievements related to the culture change. Celebrate the milestones and successes along the way and share the lessons learned and best practices.
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Anthony Sagaya (Assoc CIPD)
Head - Human Resources, at Ajmal Perfumes Group, Dubai
Change in Culture is a very challenging & crucial process for any organization....It is important for the existing employees to understand the need, purpose and the benefit for him/her & the organization.....One person at the top cannot bring the change in Cultural Shift...Employee involvement in the whole process is very crucial.. Change Ambassadors or Champions can drive the purposes but at the same time the changes implemented in the organization should also be acknowledged and communicated...
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Cindy Rodriguez
Transforming leaders with Compassion, Strategic Vision & AI Insights | TEDx Speaker | Published Writer
Employees support what they help create, so deeply involving them in culture change is crucial. Create cross-functional teams to define new cultural direction and lead initiatives. Regularly seek input to shape efforts. Celebrate and reward contributions to reinforce engagement. Recognize quick wins and milestone achievements to build momentum. Foster open dialogue and active listening to understand concerns. Draw on staff insights to refine the path forward. Keep staff looped in through town halls, surveys, and constant communication. People want their voices heard, especially amidst uncertainty. Make change a collaborative effort, not a top-down mandate. An engaged, empowered team drives transformation.
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Kimberly Bustamante
Director of Human Resources
Find out what your employees are curious about and what motivates them. Use managers and surveys to find out their reaction to the changes so communication and processes can be adapted as needed. If employees can influence changes and feel their voice matters, the buy-in will happen.
Your culture change message will not be credible or effective if it is not aligned with your policies and practices. You need to review and revise your systems, processes, and structures to ensure that they support and reinforce the new culture and values. This may include your hiring, performance management, learning and development, reward and recognition, and communication systems. You also need to model and demonstrate the new culture and behaviors yourself and hold your leaders and managers accountable for doing the same.
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Pooja Chaurasia
Program Management, Market Intelligence, Business Strategy and Development, Partnerships and Donor outreach for climate change, gender and youth sectors
When there is cultural shift, policies and practices will have to be redefined to support the new culture the organisation is trying to adopt. It becomes the responsibility of the HR to make sure the policies and practices are properly aligned, with the buy-in of the employees, which can be taken in groups and clubbed together by doing some data analysis. Once we have some insights as to how the employees look at the policies and practices, it will be easier to redefine.
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Amber Bailey Seels
Sales Leader | Business Development Leader | Inside Sales Manager | Contact Center Manager
Consistency: Ensure consistency in messaging and actions throughout the change process. Inconsistencies can lead to confusion and resistance. Demonstrate Small Wins: Break the change into smaller, achievable milestones. Celebrate these wins to build confidence and enthusiasm among employees.
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Jimmy Côté, CRHA, CAAS
Avantages sociaux : Vigie, tendances et nouveautés !
Pour renforcer le message de changement culturel, il faut aligner les incitatifs, incorporer les valeurs dans la formation, procéder à des évaluations régulières, renforcer la communication interne, responsabiliser les leaders et maintenir une écoute continue pour ajuster les politiques en fonction des retours des employés. Ceci garantit une cohérence entre les pratiques organisationnelles et la nouvelle culture souhaitée.
Finally, you need to monitor and evaluate the impact of your culture change efforts on your employees and your organization. You can use surveys, interviews, focus groups, observations, or other methods to collect data and feedback on how your employees perceive and experience the new culture and values. You can also track and measure the outcomes and indicators that are relevant to your culture change goals, such as employee engagement, satisfaction, retention, productivity, innovation, customer loyalty, or profitability. Based on your findings, you can adjust and improve your culture change strategy and actions as needed.
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Amber Bailey Seels
Sales Leader | Business Development Leader | Inside Sales Manager | Contact Center Manager
Continuous Communication: Keep communication and support ongoing. Don't assume that once the change is introduced, the work is done. Regularly update employees on progress and celebrate successes along the way.
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Jimmy Côté, CRHA, CAAS
Avantages sociaux : Vigie, tendances et nouveautés !
Pour évaluer le changement culturel, il faut utiliser une approche complète incluant une évaluation continue de la culture, une écoute active des employés, l'utilisation de données qualitatives et quantitatives, la mesure d'éléments tangibles et intangibles, une adaptation continue de la stratégie, et une communication transparente des résultats. Cette approche garantit une compréhension approfondie de l'impact du changement culturel, permettant des ajustements appropriés en réponse aux besoins de l'organisation.
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Pooja Chaurasia
Program Management, Market Intelligence, Business Strategy and Development, Partnerships and Donor outreach for climate change, gender and youth sectors
Monitor and evaluate the impact is one of the crucial part of any project, be it driving a cultural shift within the organisation. When we are saying cultural shift, it means we are making some changes, regarding which we are not 100% sure if it will give the desired results or not. In that case, it is important to pilot the change for certain duration, measure the impact and evaluate the results achieved. If it is line with the desired results, then full launch should be done, and if not, it is always recommended to make tweaks as required based on the impact analysis and then make the full launch.
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Umair Shahid
Head of HR at Milvik BIMA Pakistan | ex Engro | ex Fauji Foods | Total Rewards | HR Business Partner | Organization Development | Talent Management | Performance Management | Culture
In the phase of cultural change, the best way is to adopt Lewin's Change Model i.e. unfreeze, move and then refreeze. Initially, unshackle and 'unfreezing' the mindset of your audience. Approx. 10% of your audience may readily embrace the change, and they can become your change ambassadors. Meanwhile, about 70% to 80%, tend to be indifferent and can be influenced through effective communication and negotiation. The remaining 10-15% may strongly resist change, and in such cases, using your change ambassadors can help align them with the new direction. Once the change has been implemented, the 'refreeze' phase is equally vital. This phase ensures that the changes are stabilized and integrated, preventing any further disruptions.
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Madhulika Banerjee
A leader in change management with 13 plus years of experience in Payroll & HR operations.
Employees need to know how change affects their work duties and roles and why the company is undergoing a transition at first place. What I feel to bring a great culture first the leaders need to create a culture of change acceptance far before they intend to introduce any change. By this the organisation can get an idea how the change is going to impact. Then get the right people on board. When a company grows, it brings problematic employees as well. The attitude slowly rubs off to other employees and encourage poor behaviour all around. It becomes absolutely necessary to foster positive environment and address resistance.
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Sheila Pagan
Director of HR/Talent/Payroll Manager
How to encourage employee buy-in during a culture change? It is important to be transparent. Clear communication that can be understood. I can't say it enough - Communicate, communicate, communicate. Model new behavior but don't be pushy. Don't be critical if not followed immediately, some change takes time. Be open to feedback Have employees participate by creating committee(s) Ensure your HR department is a big part of communicating, getting employees to participate and work on new policies and procedures. HR is important in getting employees to buy-in. Especially when HR has relationships with staff, has open door policy and knows how employees will take to change.