Every manager learns how difficult it is to change other people's behavior. Although it would certainly be great if being nice and having friendly relationships with everyone was enough, it is not. The approach when managers are constantly requesting changes from their people and telling them what to do does not work either. So what does work? According to the Harvard Business Review website, you should try the following techniques.
1. Inspire others
Do not try to motivate by fear of punishment for not following your orders. Rather inspire your people to become interested in change. Talk to them about various options to achieve certain goals and ask for their opinions. Find out what they want to achieve and how it relates to what you want.
2. Pay attention to problems
Do not try to teach your people to just to solve problems better. Take one step back. Teach them to recognize and solve problems before they become too complicated.
3. Set goals
Change is best put into practice when all the participants have the same goal. Every change should begin by clarifying the strategic purpose.
4. Change ingrained orders
If you want to achieve important changes, you can't be afraid to change the procedures most people consider as carved in stone.
5. Obtain trust for your judgment
Do not decide in haste. Collect facts from multiple sources and ask your people for their opinions. This is certainly not a proof of your weakness, but quite the opposite. If others do not trust you, you can hardly motivate them to change.
6. Do not worry
Everything a manager does needs courage. To be successful, you must be able to live with uncertainty.
7. Make change a priority
Many changes do not happen because they are only one of many priorities. That is why you should look at your priorities and list only those which are really the most crucial. Than focus on implementing the change every day, step by step. Track your progress and motivate others.
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