Change Management and Employee Motivation: the Balancing Act

The biggest myth in the HR fraternity is that peoplemost important one. Only if management succeeds to
can be motivated by others, however the case in pointcreate a willingness for changing values, beliefs, and
is that they are motivated by factors other than otherbehaviours, the organization will be able to exploit their
people. That is a kind of organizational environment inreal potentials.
which they feel comfortable.Exercising and Learning
Leaders need to understand the motivational needs ofThey will experience success and failure during this
individuals and groups. They need to work out a planphase. It is the change managers task to create some
encompassing with some points that are beneficial forearly wins (e.g. by starting with easier projects). This
employees and groups, at the same time they are inwill lead to an increase in peoples perceived own
line with goals and strategies of the organization.competence.
Sunil Goel, GlobalHunt India says “Developing anRealization.
environment that improves employee's motivation isPeople gather more information by learning and
hard work. There is no one size fits all solution, asexercising. People understand which behaviour is
motivation is driven by "what's in it for me".effective in which situation. This, in turn, opens up their
Phases in Change Processes:minds for new experiences.
Normally, people perceive change processes in sevenIntegration
typical stages.People totally integrate their newly acquired patterns
of thinking and acting. The new behaviours become
Phaseroutine.
Description
Shock and SurpriseThe problem for most executives is that managing
Confrontation with unexpected situations. This canchange is unlike any other managerial task they have
happen ‘by accident’ (e.g. losses in particularever confronted. One COO at a large corporation told
business units) or planned events (e.g. workshops for that when it comes to handling even the most
personal development and team performancecomplex operational problem, he has all the skills he
improvement).needs. But when it comes to managing change, the
Denial and Refusalmodel he uses for operational issues doesn’t work.
They believe there is no need for change; their“It’s like the company is undergoing five medical
perceived competency increases again.procedures at the same time,” he told . “One
Rational Understandingperson’s in charge of the root-canal job, someone
People realize the need for change. According to thiselse is setting the broken foot, another person is
insight, their perceived competence decreases again.working on the displaced shoulder, and still another is
Emotional Acceptancegetting rid of the gallstone. Each operation is a
This phase, which is also called ‘crisis’ is thesuccess, but the patient dies of shock.