#Rerun April 23

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Today’s post is actual an edit of one I wrote back in 2014. I call it RERUN. I chose to revisit it because COVID 19 is requiring leaders to make changes.

In 2014 I was observing critical communication errors a talented leader made in a large organization. This individual has been thrust into a situation where changes need to occur for his division to become legally compliant to new standards. The problem was the communication method for by the leader in charge was “Just Do it”.

His communication method or lack of one caused weeks of  daily drama and distractions because everyone misunderstood his intent. The only thing people were doing was observing was his behavior they were not listening. He came across as non-caring and aloof because he sent out a corporate style email with the new changes.

His rational was to become compliant, changes had to occur in the organization and people had to deal with it. He lacked empathy for what the changes meant for many because he didn’t take time to listen on the front end.

My analogy for how he handled the situation was he was asked to run an airline and spent all his time weed eating the runaways.  The good news is this experience made him a better leader. He received the scars of experience and learned a valuable leadership lesson. He had to spend countless hours putting out emotional fires because people felt he was out to screw them. He was doing what the law required but never took the time to explain that as a WHY he just focused on the WHAT was going to change. He had to RERUN his message over and over again.

When people understand WHY a change is happening they are not so upset with WHAT is changing. He learned a valuable lesson. When dealing with change over communicate the WHY before the WHAT takes place. If you don’t you will be doing a lot of messaging RERUNS.