Introduction
Continuous change is necessary for companies that want to stay competitive in the modern environment with its constant evolution. Numerous examples describe how small startup projects grow into successful multinational companies with high levels of revenue as well as those companies that fail to follow the times and close down. If one is to lead a company during a significant change, they have to possess a particular set of skills and competencies, among which the abilities to make decisions and communicate effectively are the most important.
Change Managers
A board of directors and shareholders usually view the company’s activities as a whole. Considering both internal and external factors, they conduct strategic planning and set goals. Based on this information, the company experiences a range of slight and significant changes regarding its business model marketing strategy, positioning, or corporate culture. To successfully implement those initiatives expressed by authorities, well-trained and qualified managers are essential. In practice, change managers are responsible for initiating and guiding changes. Change management comes from the background of project management, but it has already transformed into a separate field.
Certain distinctive features shape the role of change managers and define their responsibilities. They are expected to formulate plans for the change they have been tasked with and implement them as well as oversee their success. Furthermore, the role of any change manager is not only the execution of changes in the company but also the engagement of relevant stakeholders.
Valuable Skills for Change Managers
The roles of project and change managers include similar and distinctive tasks, which also require each of them to possess a definite set of competencies. While the primary responsibility of project managers is to control the flow of stages and collaborate with different parties, it is necessary to comprehend the overall process and know how to address the issues. Therefore, project managers often possess a solid knowledge base about the industry they are overseeing.
Change managers focus on the necessity of a particular change and its impact on the organization in general. When an alteration is needed, many departments and stakeholders are usually involved. To coordinate the process, change managers need to identify those stakeholders and actively engage them.
Both project and change manager roles require specific skills to perform competently. The most valuable of those for change managers are communication and decision-making skills. Change managers are expected to lead the processes they are responsible for, and leaders should be able to make correct decisions and relay them to their subordinates. Excellent communication skills allow a change manager to explain his or her reasoning to employees and convince them, leading to quicker and more complete acceptance as well as increased efficiency.
Powerful collaboration and analytical abilities are also valuable in a manager. They cannot be competent in every area, and seeking and accepting help from people who are more qualified in a field is essential for maximizing the efficiency of the plans. Advanced collaboration and analytical abilities also allow one to consider internal factors within the organization, including the corporate culture, operational management, and many others, from multiple perspectives.
Conclusion
The modern environment with its continuous evolution has created the position of a change manager. When executives set strategic goals for making an organizational change in the company, change managers fulfill them. The critical skills for the job are decision-making and communication abilities, as they directly affect the success of an initiative. Collaboration and analytical skills are also valuable, but to a lesser degree, as they are primarily relevant in the planning stage.