Read “Change Through Persuasion” from HBR\'s 10 Must Reads on Change Management
ID: 351971 • Letter: R
Question
Read “Change Through Persuasion” from HBR's 10 Must Reads on Change Management then choose one element of persuasion that you feel is the most important (set the stage, create a frame, manage the mood, and prevent backsliding). Why do you feel that this element is the most important? Briefly summarize a situation that required change that exemplifies the element of persuasion you identified as the most important. What actions did you or the change leaders take that displayed that element of persuasion? Was it effective? Why or why not? How does communication play a role in these elements
Explanation / Answer
Change is inevitable particularly for organizations which are on the verge of collapse. There is always a fear factor that engulfs employees whenever things are not running smoothly. Change often comes with fear and only determined employees will work the way out to recovery. Change through persuasion creates a universal need of achieving goals as a team. Persuasion allows all the stakeholders to feel like part of the problem and combined efforts to deal with the challenge. I believe that set the stage element of change through persuasion is the most important aspect as it provides a path in which change can be effected in an organization. Setting the stage means having an understanding of underlying issues and coming up with basic approaches to reaching out to the people involved (Levin, 2014).
Setting the stage is important as it provides a blue print on how issues will be handled, the consequences of failure and the chance to appeal to the crucial members on the need to pursue change. Setting the stage involves drawing parallels on what to expect and the repercussions of failing to stick with strategies adopted to achieve change. The failure to set the stage might render other elements useless and a waste of time. Setting the stage provides a solid foundation in which change can be effected in an organization through team involvement. The fact that t appeals to all stakeholders mean that there will be joined efforts to achieve change in the organization. The element is so crucial, and leaders should put more emphasis on this element (Levin, 2014).
In one of the leading IT organizations that had lost almost its top talented staff to rival organizations, the incoming HR manager demonstrated the element of setting the stage in a bid to solve the problem. Once the manager assumed office, he quickly addressed the issue by first bringing to the attention of employees that no further employee would be allowed to leave the organization. The action acted as a warning and send shivers to employees as they viewed it as an obstruction to their rights. The manager additionally used departmental heads to reinforce the message to employees. The manager also promised employees to be open to communication and be a good listener. These actions looked intimidating but were aimed at getting to the root of the problem of employees leaving the company for the competitor. The move proved to be effective as the employees finally shared their personal views on the reasons why they preferred leaving. The organization had to correct the issues to reduce the turnover. Communication plays a huge role in persuasion as it allows all the parties to share their concerns and offer suggestions on the best approach to handling issues within the workplace (Levin, 2014).
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