About once per year, either Bob or Jed will end up working with a client-company that is making a significant change in its office concept. Managers end up being stuck in the middle between the HR or Executive group who thinks the change is a good idea, and the staff who often hate the idea. Being stuck in the middle is a continual struggle for managers – office space is simply the best example.
So how does a leader manage this middle ground? Join us this week for different ideas on dealing with being caught in the middle.
Monday’s Tip: Start the Dialogue Early. Nobody likes surprises, and you need to begin a discussion with people long before you make any changes to your physical space. Organizations spend a great deal of time and money planning the physical move, and forget entirely about the psychological move they are asking people to make.
Tuesday’s Tip: Ask for their input – but only on the negotiables. There’s nothing quite so disrespectful as giving people the illusion they have a vote, when they really don’t. If something is not negotiable then you need to say so. Consult people on things you are willing to consider their feedback on. For the non-negotiables – identify them as such.
Wednesday’s Tip: Tell people why. Even if people don’t agree with something, they are more willing to come on board if they understand why. If the reason is to save money, then don’t be afraid to say so. If you don’t tell people why, their imaginations will create all kinds of sinister reasons for such a change, and then you’ll be fighting that battle, too.
Thursday’s Tip: Over-communicate by a factor of ten. Don’t forget that the most powerful communication media is listening. You also need to repeat your message multiple times via multiple media. If you send out an email once, and think you’ve communicated something, you will have failed miserably
Friday’s Tip: Tell people what they can do/have/try. Focus people on the positive things about the change you are asking them to make. In an office move talk about the things that will be better in the new space.