The Power of Empathy in Leading Change | Pooja Gupta
Aug 28, 2024
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Pooja Gupta, an Agile Coach and Agile Community Lead at Visma Solutions, emphasizes the crucial role of empathy in change management. She argues that the challenge lies not in the change itself but in how it's communicated, sharing compelling stories of contrasting company responses to layoffs. Pooja provides actionable strategies to normalize change, express fears, and utilize the SCARF model. Her insights prompt a shift towards compassionate communication to better support teams during transitions.
Empathetic communication is vital in change management, as it helps leaders address employees' fears and reduce resistance effectively.
Utilizing the SCARF model allows leaders to identify and alleviate specific employee concerns, fostering a smoother transition during change.
Deep dives
Understanding Resistance to Change
Resistance to change is a natural response rooted in human behavior, reflecting a healthy mindset. Individuals often resist change due to fears regarding job security or losing their comfort zones, and this reaction should be anticipated by leaders. It’s crucial for leaders to understand that employees' opposition is not a problem but rather a signal that something significant is about to happen. By approaching this resistance with empathy and open conversation, leaders can help staff process and accept the changes more constructively.
The Role of Communication in Change Management
Effective communication is essential in the change management process, and leaders must ensure that changes are conveyed with understanding and clarity. When changes happen abruptly or without consultation, people may feel excluded or fearful, leading to increased resistance. Leaders should involve individuals in decision-making processes, allowing them to express concerns and providing space for dialogue. Transparent communication fosters trust and helps individuals feel like valued participants rather than mere subjects of change.
Applying the SCARF Model for Better Leadership
Understanding the SCARF model—Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, and Fairness—can enhance leaders’ ability to manage change effectively. This model helps leaders recognize and address the primary factors that influence employee behavior during times of transition. By applying this framework, leaders can identify and alleviate specific concerns, such as fears about job autonomy or status, thus reducing resistance to changes in the workplace. Promoting a sense of certainty and fairness can enable smoother transitions and cultivate a more engaged workforce.
In this episode, Pooja talks about the often-overlooked aspect of leading change: communication. She discusses how the real challenge in change management isn’t the change itself but how it’s communicated. By sharing a story of how two companies handled layoffs differently, Pooja illustrates the importance of empathy in communication. She provides actionable tips, including the need to normalize change, allow people to express their fears, and use models like SCARF to guide the change process. How can we better support our teams through change by focusing on empathetic communication?
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About Pooja Gupta
Pooja is an Agile Coach at Visma Solutions and Agile Community Lead for Visma Group. With a passion for "limitless learning" and "selfless teaching," she brings empathy and a people-centric approach to her work and everyday life. Based in Helsinki for 9 years, she finds balance through yoga, meditation, and family life.