Leave space for the real reaction.

Even with the best communication, change can be disappointing or upsetting to employees. Give your team space to feel those feelings. 

When you see your employees struggling with the idea of change, you may feel the need to point out all the silver linings in the news. But putting a positive spin on everything can feel dismissive. So instead, listen deeply to their concerns and validate their feelings. 

This will help them process the news, while also giving them a higher sense of psychological safety and connection, which will help them recover from the change and roll with the new plan.

 

Key question: “Have I made room for my team to openly express how they’re feeling?”