JULY 2019HR TECH OUTLOOK 19Change Management: The Challenges Involved and How to Approach it1. What are the current market trends you see shaping the change management space?The biggest market trend shaping change management is change leadership. Be it organizational, industrial, or new systems, the focus today is on supporting leaders in helping their people through the change curve. As leaders, we must inform, engage, inspire, and activate our teams as we deal with changes. For the change to be successful, senior leaders must be clear on how the change aligns with the "big picture" strategic direction. Leaders must put in systems and processes to ensure that people understand the changes that are happening, the timeline of its occurrence, the potential impacts, and the steps to be taken. Having a foundation of trust in your organization ­ and maintaining that trust during change ­ is critical. To do this, leaders must communicate as transparently as possible with their teams as the change unfolds. 2. No amount of planning, prep work, and impact assessments will guarantee an effective result of 100 percent all the time. Having a contingency plan keeps you prepared for unforeseen events. What are your views on this?It's critical when embarking on a significant organizational change that we take stock of the impacts expected, how the stakeholders will be affected, and the timeframe. However, it's equally vital that you anticipate the fact that you can't know every possible outcome. Ask questions to make sure you've covered all the bases, and consider the necessary external stakeholders to formulate a plan for contingencies and a timeline for executing it. Many people approach a significant change by starting with an idea, but they do not take into consideration that something could go awry. Something unanticipated will definitely come up, and you should be ready for it. Fara Palumbo, SVP & Chief People Officer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North CarolinaByCXOInsightsFara Palumbo
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