3 Ways People Resist Change and What to Do About It Life is change. Learning is change. Evolving is change. New technology emerges, altering how we perform certain tasks, the cars we drive, and the apps we use on our phones. Avoiding all change is impossible, yet we don’t always embrace a new change immediately. Some people resist change in unexpected ways, usually driven by specific beliefs, values, or concerns. Understanding those reasons can help you lead resisters (including yourself) smoothly into a successful change. Here are 3 ways people resist change and what to do about it. 1. Organizational Resistance. When you implement a change, the effects of the new policy or procedure should ripple outward through the department or organization. Sometimes, though, the organization's structure itself causes resistance to changes. This can be caused by poor communication or a lack of understanding of how different company parts contribute to a whole. The biggest key to overcoming organizational resistance is communication, more specifically listening. This is a great time to practice the kind of communication that seeks first to understand and then be understood. Chances are, there are puzzle pieces you’re missing. Once you know what they are, you will be much closer to identifying the challenges. 2. Critical Resistance. Someone who openly challenges change is hard to ignore. He doesn’t hide his plans to ignore the change. He speaks up loudly and may encourage others to do the same. It’s important to remember that the person resisting isn’t inherently negative; they’re a team member you want to support in the transition. Change can evoke a variety of normal emotions. When it leads to a sense of loss of control or feeling unheard or undervalued, a team member may respond by actively criticizing the change. Take the time to listen to your team member’s concerns. It’s possible to alleviate some of their expressed concerns to rest or reassure them that you have a plan to address the potential complications they are concerned about. Keep your voice calm and avoid dismissive statements like, “Just jump on board; it will be easy,” as this may leave your team member feeling unheard. Instead, try using reflective statements that rephrase their concerns: “What I hear you saying is...” is…”. 3. Quiet Resistance. While someone actively criticizing a change is impossible not to notice, someone quietly resisting may fly under your radar for a time. Instead of voicing their displeasure or making their intention to disregard a change known, a quiet resister tends to do the opposite, often due to their nature of avoiding confrontation. They may appear to be listening to all new instructions, yet they’ll continue working according to the former goals or procedures, as they are uncertain. Realizing that someone has been quietly resisting a new policy or procedure can be frustrating. You might wonder why they didn’t express any questions or concerns. Continuing to perform tasks in an old way could lead to problems you hoped to avoid. Responding to [...]

Why Celebrating Company Milestones is Important Whether you’re cheering for the completion of a contract, recognizing a company anniversary, or taking a victory lap for a team goal, celebrating company milestones is important. It’s an opportunity to acknowledge contributions that make the achievement possible and reinforce the value and strength of teamwork. Celebrating a milestone means setting aside time to recognize your journey and look at how far you’ve come and who helped make your achievements possible. Here are more reasons to celebrate company milestones. 1. Acknowledge Individual Contributions. A milestone celebration is the perfect time to recognize individual contributions. Since employee recognition is a significant driver in retention and employee happiness, take the opportunity to celebrate each team member’s unique talents. Offering a bonus or gift is wonderful, but what’s most impactful is acknowledging specific, meaningful contributions from individuals on your team. How did each member contribute to the team’s success? This is the time to let the whole world know about it. 2. Generate Team Memories and Connections. Another key factor in employee retention is positive company culture. Taking time out of the workday to acknowledge the success of the team creates positive memories and connections between team members. It also reminds your team that they are greater than the sum of their parts. Additionally, a celebration offers an opportunity for an individual to learn more about how others’ work contributes to the project. It’s a great way for people to get to know one another better, too. 3. Reinforce the Team's Mission. Remembering your “why” is critically important when stress mounts, and deadlines loom, but it’s also important to hold onto the team’s mission and the team members’ individual roles in it when it comes time to lift a glass (or a fork) to celebrate. Reminding the team why what they do matters instills a sense of pride in their everyday work. 4. Offer an Emotional Reset. A celebration can also offer a moment to reset. It can provide closure to a project or participation in a particular group. This gives us permission to clear our slate and move forward with the feeling that we’re starting fresh. This can energize the team so they go into the next project focused and engaged. Help KCC Celebrate Our 13th Anniversary! Since 2012, our team at KCC has worked to help clients achieve goals, strengthen their leadership skills, and increase employee happiness. We consider every client's success a victory, and we’re honored for the continued opportunity to participate in your growth. Has KCC made a difference for you? Share your story! Maybe one of our blog posts reached you at just the right moment. Perhaps my book on happiness helped you find joy in a new way. One of our workshops or coaches may have brought your goals within reach. How have we helped you? Celebrate with us by sharing your story! Leave your comments below, and please join us for our virtual party on March 13th.

5 Reasons You Should Hire a Business Coach Deciding to get a coach can be exciting yet you can have doubts. An effective coach can make a huge difference in your success, but it’s also an investment of time and money. How do you know whether the investment to hire a business coach is right for you? Hiring a coach is like having a personal cheerleader with the expertise needed to help you achieve your work objectives. Are you focusing on the right priorities and are they aligned with your goals? What are your key talents? What needs tweaking? A coach can help you answer these questions and craft a career or development plan that helps you reach your objectives. Here are 5 reasons you should hire a coach. 1. Get an Outside Perspective. When you get a coach, you bring in someone with knowledge and expertise who can help you navigate your unique work challenges. They bring a fresh perspective to the situation and can help you discover options or solutions that you may have overlooked. We all have blind spots and opportunities. A coach is trained to help you recognize yours. 2. Help You Use Your Talents. Many people assume that a coach’s primary role is to highlight and fix their weaknesses. However, the most effective coaching approach focuses on amplifying your natural talents and strengths, allowing you to leverage them even more. Instead of fixating on weaknesses, a great coach helps you manage them in a way that they don’t become significant obstacles. This shift in perspective not only enhances performance but also fosters greater confidence and personal growth. 3. Focus on Key Issues. It’s undeniable that unexpected challenges will frequently pop up at work. It’s easy to lose focus on the big picture when you spend your days putting out the little fires that crop up around you. A coach will help you see through the smoke and keep your focus on the tasks and issues that matter most. 4. Teach You Better Habits. What are you doing that holds you back? A great coach will analyze your habits, trends, and typical reactions to situations, helping you make small behavioral adjustments for better outcomes. They’ll point out ways you may limit yourself without even realizing it and offer solutions that support your growth and development success. 5. Offer Accountability. We rarely receive direct feedback at work for various reasons. A coach is distanced from your daily operations and well-positioned to offer nudges of accountability that can make the difference between staying stuck and making progress. More Reasons to Hire a Business Coach Success doesn’t happen by accident, and it doesn’t happen alone. It takes a supportive, knowledgeable community to achieve results, and a coach is a key member of that supportive team. When you hire a coach, you’re hiring someone whose entire purpose is to help you identify and clear the roadblocks between you and your goals. At KCC, we offer different coaching packages to meet [...]