Working through Change: A Leadership Focus

Change is inevitable and there is no escaping it. However, that’s no bad thing!

Take a moment to consider just how much change has taken place within your own family, your local community, those towns and cities that you spend time in, at a national level and of course at a global level. In many instances things are almost unrecognisable to how they were five or ten years ago.

Change is a constant feature. It permeates our world and of course those organisations in which we work. What is essential when it comes to managing organisational change is effective and timely leadership.

The rate of change occurring in human service organisations if anything is accelerating and becoming more complex. The changing expectations of those that use services; increased regulation; the influence of technology and climate change all impact the ways in which we deliver supports.

Despite this, many individuals, teams and organisations believe that they don’t need to change. This is especially the case where they are currently successful. Where change is imposed, conflict inevitably arises. Fortunately, the OTC module Key Management Skills: Teamwork, Leadership and Communications (Unit 4) delves into this topic in real detail and provides students with the crucial leadership skills required to effectively manage conflict in the workplace.

We know almost instinctively that in failing to embrace change in a proactive way, organisations will be left behind by others including competitors. That is why effective leadership is key.

As change is inevitable, human service organisations can either initiate it on their own terms which gives them an advantage or inevitably have it imposed upon them which is much more challenging. In such circumstances organisations often find themselves ‘behind the curve’ and playing catch up. Imagine what individuals, teams and organisations could achieve by refocussing their energies on
something more productive.

Managing relationships is so important in such situations. In unit 1 of the Key Management Skills module, students learn how to lead, build cohesion and commitment with a variety of stakeholders in the workplace.

The message is clear. Embrace change. Be brave and realise the opportunities that will arise as a result. With the Open Training College, leaders can act with confidence knowing that they have the necessary knowledge and skill set to succeed.

Joe McDonald has thirty years' experience working in various leadership positions at a local, regional and national level.

He is an Associate Tutor with the OTC and is passionate about enhancing the quality of lives of those that use supports and in developing vibrant, innovative human service organisations.'