• 10 Jan 2020
  • SBS-ED
  • 3Min

How to embrace change management in the age of the digital disruption

How to embrace change management in the age of the digital disruption

With the coming of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), companies across industries are facing volatile, ambiguous and disruptive times. The only constant is change – whether it be infrastructural changes, system changes, etc. – which makes change management critical.

According to a survey by Deloitte Consulting, 87 percent of respondents believe their organisation does not have the correct leadership in place to face disruption, despite most of them believing their organisation would be disrupted in the short term.

Leadership and disruption should never be opposing forces. Training magazine cites companies such as Airbnb and Uber are disruptive entities that harness the demands of 4IR to take on traditional industries and achieve success.

So how to reconcile the two and ensure the leaders of your organisation are prepared to stay the course? These tips and courses from USB-ED give you – and your management team – a head start.

How to implement effect change management

Adapt – or get left behind

It’s all good implementing widespread organisational changes to deal with disruptive technology but without a change of mindset, your organisation will be ill-equipped to respond to recurring problems.

Forbes suggests elevating the quality of your leadership to become more adaptive.

Executive leaders, specifically, need to evolve their practical and theoretical frameworks of what it means to lead by understanding business through a global lens. USB-ED’s Executive Development Programme (EDP) will help build this knowledge base so leaders can successfully implement efficient change management.  

Don’t fight the change

When disruption takes place, the standard response is often to fight the change that’s happening instead of embracing it.

According to an op-ed in The Globe And Mail, sticking to traditional methods and ignoring the changes taking place around you may cause a thriving company to end up being dismantled. The Senior Management Development Programme (SMDP) at USB-ED teaches innovation, collaboration and agility to help managers embrace and build resilience to change.

Write new rules

While we’re not condoning you throwing out your organisation’s systems and processes entirely, the age of disruption does require a willingness to step outside the demarcated boundaries and redefine your organisation or team’s best practices.

This means taking the necessary steps to communicate any changes so your organisation can work through them as a unit. Young or new managers may potentially be more adept at change management in these types of scenarios and USB-ED’s New Managers’ Development Programme (NMDP) will help them gain the confidence to lead their teams.

Be decisive

Leading by consensus has become commonplace over the past decade, however, in times of change, employees need leaders who are decisive.

According to Fast Company, even decisions based on a gut feeling allow leaders to move themselves and their teams forward while waiting could result in failure. Leaders who want to make the correct moves will find the Strategy Execution course at USB-ED helpful in assisting in the decision-making and implementation process during times of disruption.

Open up your connections

Whether a leader has been managing a unit or team for a while or has just taken the leap to a more senior role, understanding how they influence their team’s thoughts and work output is integral to achieving success during challenging times.

Good leaders communicate changes, realise what they can offer their teams and are open to receiving feedback and guidance from younger colleagues.

It’s important that you empower the leaders within your organisation with insights and best management practices. USB-ED’s Management Development Programme is an ideal course to enrol in, which takes the role and idea of leadership to new heights.

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