Getting Employees Ready for Change

This chapter explores several change variables that may impact on how employees react to change. More specifically, it demonstrates how elements of the change process, that is, how the change is implemented, the way it is managed, the organizational context and individual variables, influence how employees respond to change. Having a clear understanding of the difference between reacting versus resisting change enables managing employee reactions more effectively. The chapter discusses that as a change leader, one needs to get people to understand what the change means and needs to understand what does the change means to the employee. The change leader has different tools at his or her disposal in creating change readiness but the starting point is the leader. The change leader needs to act according to his or her value system, have high levels of self‐awareness, and act authentically. The ability to act authentic influences the ability of the leader to demonstrate appropriate leader behaviours and may influence employee acceptance of the change.