The Connections Bernards-Ridge Edition April/May 2024

theconnectionsnj.com PAGE 50 DINING OUT HEALTH & WELLNESS Is the change you’re trying to make work not working? Meet Mary Lou I’m a retired communications executive turned prosperity coach. I specialize in helping people make change work so they can prosper in their careers and lives. • Struggling to lead change at your company or in your life? • Is change fatigue a disease you and your employees suffer from? • Is your company among the 70% whose change initiatives fail? • Are you looking for a way to beat the odds and make change work for you? There’s a better way. Let me show you. 1:1 Leadership Coaching Communications Advisory Services Team Workshops Keynotes Let’s Connect! Call/Text: 908-300-0674 ml@ihelppeopleprosper.com www.helppeopleprosper.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-lou-panzano/ Change is constant. It’s one thing we can always count on. If that’s true, then why are we not that good at making change work? According to Forbes (Oct. 2022), 70% of all change initiatives companies try to implement fail, costing businesses millions of dollars in lost time, money, and productivity. Failed change initiatives not only bear a significant cost to the company, its employees, and stakeholders, but they also often leave leaders and communicators feeling exhausted, deflated, and burned out. What is behind these failures and what can be done about them? Why Most Change Efforts Fail There are four main reasons cited in the Forbes article explaining why most change initiatives fail. 1.There is a lack of clarity and understanding around the change. 2. People impacted feel disconnected disconnected from the change and therefore are not receptive. 3.Those making the change do not care enough to gather outside perspectives. 4. People fear the unknown and as a result lack the courage courage to make the change. CONNECTION COMMENDS These reasons point to a lack of communication. That resonates with me because I have spent more than 30 years in the trenches confronting this problem while leading employee communications at four global companies. How Not to Fail at Making Change Work There is hope. When leading or communicating about a major change, the chances of success increase substantially when the following four components are part of the strategy: CLARITY: Know and stick to your goal. Be clear about what you’re striving for, why it’s important, and what the intended outcome is. CONNECTION: Engage and involve others. Once you are clear about your goal, actively engage others to help you Change is constant. How you handle it increases your chance of success. achieve it. Listen to what stakeholders think, then leverage that input when making the change. CARING: Care about the impact. Demonstrate that you care about how the change you plan to make impacts people and your stakeholders. Actions still speak louder than words. COURAGE: Take the risk; do what’s right. right. Nothing changes if nothing changes. Take smart risks when taking action. Raise concerns, ask the questions no one else is asking, present fresh ideas, make the decision, and act. These four components make up a successful framework I used to help companies implement successful change initiatives. I use them in my personal life, too! Change is constant. How you handle it increases your chance of success. Whether you are a leader driving a major change at your company, someone involved in supporting that change, or are stuck trying to make a change in your own life, this framework is a simple, effective way to help you stay focused and grounded and get the outcome you desire. Tackling Change How Not to Fail By Mary Lou Panzano 908-300-0674 helppeopleprosper.com These reasons point to a lack of com munication. That resonates with me be while leading employee communica

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