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title = "Intermediating during change" title = "Intermediating during change"
draft = true
date = 2020-05-23 date = 2020-05-23
[taxonomies] [taxonomies]
tags = [ tags = [
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"learning", "learning",
] ]
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# Intermediating during change # Managing change
A significant portion of my job these days is to act as an intermediator during change.
> intermediate: > intermediate:
> verb (used without object) > verb (used without object)
> 1. to act as an intermediary; intervene; mediate. [Dictionary.com](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/intermediator) > 1. to act as an intermediary; intervene; mediate. [Dictionary.com](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/intermediator)
A significant portion of my job these days is to act as an intermediator. I I stand between upper management and the teams that report to me. I mediate the
stand between upper management and the teams that report to me. I mediate the
interaction between them. My role is one of translator, shield, and interaction between them. My role is one of translator, shield, and
understand-er in chief. I am the primary way that my direct reports understand understand-er in chief. I am the primary way that my direct reports understand
the goals, needs, and requirements of the company they work for. I'm also the the goals, needs, and requirements of the company they work for. I'm also the
way that the company understands the mood, needs, and capabilities of the way that the company understands the mood, needs, and capabilities of the
people they have employed. This is, to say the least, the most exhausting and yet people they have employed. This is, to say the least, the most exhausting and
in some ways most fulfilling part of my job. yet in some ways most fulfilling part of my job.
If you work somewhere for long enough eventually you'll see a negative If you work somewhere for long enough eventually you'll see a negative
narrative start to form. A policy change will strike people the wrong way. A narrative start to form. A policy change will strike people the wrong way. A
@ -39,29 +40,29 @@ your team.
## Planned Change ## Planned Change
Your ideal situation is to be proactive. If a change is coming to my team and Your goal in managing change is to be proactive. If a change is coming to my
I've been made aware of it I need to take some steps to ensure the health of my team and I've been made aware of it I need to take some steps to ensure the
team as the change is happening. My first task is to understand the change and health of my team as the change is happening. My first task is to understand
what is motivating it. What is behind the change? Why does the company find it the change and what is motivating it. What is behind the change? Why does the
necessary. What will be the impact on my team of this change. I need to be company find it necessary. What will be the impact on my team of this change. I
empathetic to both the company and my team. Most change is motivated by need to be empathetic to both the company and my team. Most change is motivated
something but those motivations aren't always clearly communicated. My job is by something but those motivations aren't always clearly communicated. My job
to understand those motivations so that I can clearly explain them to the team. is to understand those motivations so that I can clearly explain them to the
No one likes change for no clear gain. But most people can get behind a change team. No one likes change for no clear gain. But most people can get behind a
with clear reasons behind them. change with clear reasons behind them.
My next task is to understand the impact this will have on my team. What My next task is to understand the impact this will have on my team. What
questions are they likely to have? Will there be undesirable impacts that questions are they likely to have? Will there be undesirable impacts that
management may be unaware of? If you can anticipate those questions or management may be unaware of? If you can anticipate those questions or
potential setbacks you will go a long way to easing everyone's minds. It's potential setbacks you will go a long way to easing everyone's minds. It's
crucial that management knows you understand the impacts these changes will crucial that management knows you understand the impacts these changes will
have on the team and can communicate them back to them. It's also crucial that have on the team and can communicate them back to them. It's also important
your team knows you are already proactively managing that impact on them. If that your team knows you are already proactively managing that impact on them.
the change is going to slow them down and you've already let management know to If the change is going to slow them down and you've already let management know
expect that then your team is going be less anxious about that change affecting to expect that then your team is going be less anxious about that change
their standing at the company. affecting their standing at the company.
Once I understand the change that is coming, it's motivation, and it's impacts Once I understand the change that's coming, it's motivation, and it's impacts
then I can communicate it to my team. My goals are to help the team understand then I can communicate it to my team. My goals are to help the team understand
the change and prepare for it mentally and emotionally. To do this I'm upfront the change and prepare for it mentally and emotionally. To do this I'm upfront
about the costs the change will incur. I make sure that they know I've already about the costs the change will incur. I make sure that they know I've already
@ -70,22 +71,23 @@ negotiated ways to mitigate or handle those costs. I also make sure I listen.
Just because I've done my homework first and tried to anticipate all the Just because I've done my homework first and tried to anticipate all the
impacts doesn't mean there isn't something I missed or was unaware of. If I impacts doesn't mean there isn't something I missed or was unaware of. If I
learn anything new from the team then I commit to communicate it to leadership. learn anything new from the team then I commit to communicate it to leadership.
Both the team and the company leadership needs to know that I am an effective Both the team and the company leadership need to know that I am an effective
translator, and they can trust me to accurately represent them to each other. translator, and they can trust me to accurately represent their needs to each
other.
## Sudden change ## Sudden change
Sometimes change comes suddenly. Sometimes the environment for the company Sometimes change comes suddenly. Sometimes the environment for the company
changes so fast no one sees it coming until it's right on top of them. changes so fast no one sees it coming until it's right on top of them. Maybe
Maybe communication lines break down in a place outside my control. communication lines break down in a place outside my control. Perhaps I just
Perhaps I just drop the ball. When that happens first I have to accept it and drop the ball. When that happens first I have to accept it and then I need to
then I need to follow the same playbook but on an accelerated timeline. I might follow the same playbook but on an accelerated timeline. I might have to tell
have to tell the team that I'm working to understand the change same as them the team that I'm working to understand the change same as them and then commit
and then commit to follow up with them when I learn more. If I've done my job to follow up with them when I learn more. If I've done my job before this then
before this then I'll have earned enough trust for myself and the company that I'll have earned enough trust for myself and the company that they'll wait for
they'll wait for that feedback and withhold judgement. The company will be able that feedback and withhold judgement. The company will be able to trust me to
to trust me to manage the team's response to unexpected change as well which manage the team's response to unexpected change as well which reduces stress
reduces stress for everyone involved. for everyone involved.
# Change is necessary # Change is necessary