Importance of Effective Communication in Change Management

Change communication outlines two-way communication, specifically about the change project during its implementation, resolution, and growth stages. The success of the organizational change initiative is heavily reliant on how you present and discuss the change initiative process. However, it solely focuses on how you communicate the change idea to the employees and stakeholders. Today, we’ll discuss the importance of effective communication in change management; theories and models, components and elements, and the reasons for the significance of change communication.

Theories and Models Highlighted the Role of Communication

• Kotter’s 8-Step Model of Change Management focuses on regularly communicating the organizational change vision; stakeholders remember it in their hearts and mind
• ADKAR Models points out that all the employees and stakeholders should be aware of the organizational change initiative; clear and open communication is necessary for the change project
• Lewin’s Model is heavily reliant on organizational communication in three stages; unfreezing, changing, and refreezing

Components and Elements of Change Communication

• Transmitter: sender and transmitter of the change message
• Message: content that the sender sends to the receiver
• Channel: medium through which you send the message content
• Receiver: recipient of the message

Importance of Effective Communication in Change Management

Let’s discuss the importance of effective communication in change management; they’re as follows;

Team Building

Implementing successful changes is teamwork, rather than an individual job. The main reason behind the successful execution of the change project is how you build the winning team; and how various employees and team members effectively coordinate, collaborate, and communicate with one another. However, implementing the change communication strategies is a long-term process towards building an effective team.

Change communication plays a key role in boosting the morale, confidence, and motivation levels among employees and team members. This results in higher productivity and positive outcomes for the change project.

Listening to Employee Concerns

Employee satisfaction level is reliant on carefully listening to the feedback and concerns of employees and team members. It is comprised of suggestions about what type of complaints you need to make. Usually, employees and team members are fearful of the change project and the change process, because they’re in a state of shock and denial. The management should receive the employee feedback and listen to them seriously.

You can address the employee concerns and complaints through a two-way communication channel. Open and two-way communication allows everyone to freely communicate with their superiors, coworkers, and groups regardless of any rank level. However, it allows you to deal with the change resistance and earn their support for the change project.

Sharing Innovation and Knowledge

Employees and team members would openly share their ideas and thoughts in an open communication environment without any fear of mockery and criticism. Experts and knowledgeable employees would share their views with other team members when there is open interdepartmental communication among working groups. However, the impact of knowledge sharing is highly significant when various organizations are experiencing the skill gap crisis with other employees.

Successful and Effective Management

The change leaders should have good and effective communication skills to deal with their team members. Strong and effective communication comprises of allocation of various tasks, relationship development, motivation, and conflict management. However, effective communication is much more than just the capability to speak, rather it means empowering them to speak to one another. It is significant to promote and facilitate multiple communication channels for the change initiative.

High Crisis Management

The key benefit of effective change communication is improving collaboration in the working environment and simplifying crisis management. Employees, businesses, and organizations are running their businesses in a risky and hazardous environment. They should keep in mind the benefits of open and consistent communication.

Developing Loyalty

If you are improving the retention of employees during the change process, then it strengthens the organization and positively impacts the bottom line. It is necessary for many job roles to have specific years of experience; because only then does it allow them to resolve complex problems and promote innovation and creativity. However, employees’ perception of the organization is dependent on what sort of treatment they receive.

Employee Engagement

Better and improved communication across the organization promotes employee engagement. It plays a key role in improving employee retention and boosting their performance. However, employees are valuable assets to organizations due to their unique skills, expertise, and experience.

High Motivation

Many psychologists have pointed out the fact that people won’t comprehend and remember the concept if they don’t know the reason behind it. The key element of communication is performing the follow-up to make sure they have understood the right message.

Conclusion: The Importance of Communication in Change Management |Importance of Change Communication in Change Management

After an in-depth study of the importance of effective communication in change management; we have realized that change communication is highly significant for the change project. If you are learning about the importance of change communication in organizational change initiatives; then you should keep in mind the abovementioned reasons, models theories, and components.