Gina Temple on Growing an Organization: Change is Key

There are numerous methods company executives can employ to help their organization grow. This can include modifying processes in a company to fulfill short- or long-term goals. Changing an organization in certain ways can be crucial to increasing its profits or productivity. Gina Temple explains how to encourage organizational change.

Here are some ways to encourage change in an organization:

Be clear about your goals.

Being transparent about company goals can help you and other employees create a plan for change. This can include communicating goals like increases in efficiency, profit, or general changes in behavior. Consider creating a list of company changes and goals and distribute it to staff members to clarify plans for change.

Coach staff members.

Coaching staff means directly communicating what they should change and how to adapt to changes in the organization, explains Gina Temple. This can create a method of communication that encourages staff to discuss any challenges they need to overcome. You can use coaching to promote a culture of feedback that encourages change. Coaching can also help staff members develop their confidence as they learn to adapt to any other possible changes.

Offer voluntary training.

You can create voluntary training programs to encourage staff to learn about changes and how to adjust to them. These can include optional meetings that offer an opportunity for direct communication with team leads. Training can also lead to an increase in motivation among staff members, which can make changes easier for them to accept and accomplish.

Ask questions.

Encouraging staff to ask questions can lead to answers that help them stay knowledgeable and productive, Gina Temple points out. This can encourage staff to engage with one another, which can help them create a collective plan for adapting to changes. Asking questions can also foster communication, leading to further positive changes.

Request feedback.

Asking for feedback can help you better understand how your organization's staff is adapting to changes. It enables you to identify alterations you can make to your methods to facilitate a better understanding of how changes can help improve the company. An organization can use feedback as a tool for continued learning. In addition, it can make staff members feel more in control of their future in the organization, which can increase their confidence when responding to any current and future changes.

Strive for continuous change.

Continuous changes are important to encourage improvements in an organization. You can work to constantly identify challenges and work on methods to overcome them through changes in behavior, adds Gina Temple. This can also include personal changes in behavior that highlight your ability to adapt, which can inspire others to adapt to change as well.

Gina Temple has served in the healthcare community for over 30 years with experiences ranging from for-profit to not-for-profit organizations, unionized to non-unionized facilities, and acute care settings to outpatient centers. Read more of her insights on healthcare and leadership by subscribing to this page.