Change management activities are tasks and techniques used to further successful change management. The best ones will help move a change management plan forward and maximize the change management resources available to the affected organization. Each business has different employees and different methods of operation, so the best activities related to change management will vary depending on the needs of each organization. Change management activities can include serious activities like planning meetings, training and coaching sessions, but may also include change management games designed to move change management progress forward by amusing and engaging its participants.
One important task in change management is assessing whether the organization and its employees are ready for the change to occur. This assessment may happen when the change is just being planned, or it may be an assessment given while implementing the change to determine whether the organization is ready for the next stage of change. Usually, assessment activities in change management involve observing employees as they perform new tasks implemented in the change.
The best change management activities are activities in which everyone involved can participate. When planning change management activities, it is important to consider the people in the organization who might be participating in the activity. Planning physically active change management games can be perfect for an organization with physically fit members, but the activity may be off-putting to workers who are uncomfortable meeting the physical requirements of active games.
Communication is vital to successful change management. Without communication, an organization will not know if the change is going poorly. Keeping open communication with those affected by the change can give change manager early notice of any problems, interruptions or complaints related to the change. Activities which can enhance communication during a change include meetings and coaching sessions. Meetings can be small or large, but should be small enough that each person who wants to speak has an opportunity.
Change managers introducing changes to an organization that require existing staff to work with new people often conduct change management activities designed to let employees get to know each other. These types of activities can include name memory games to help employees get to know each other, or they may include games like reverse musical chairs or charades designed to foster interaction or a sense of teamwork. When situations are tense among assimilated staffers, a silly game can help break the ice and give employees a shared experience upon which to build camaraderie.