I have been in several positions where I experienced change and was responsible for
managing the change. The most recent situation is still in progress. I currently work for a
workforce development organization that utilizes state and federal grant money to send
qualified individuals to training. The project I was previously on has entirely run out of
funds, six months before any new funds are expected. Instead of firing or laying off all
employees working with that program, my organization has moved us to a different project
that has just received 1 million dollars in funds. This change can cause several issues if
everyone is not appropriately trained in the eligibility requirements of the new project.
Fortunately, I and several of my coworkers worked on that project last year. We have
facilitated a series of in-person and virtual training to get everyone up to speed. This has
saved jobs and assisted the individuals that the non-profit organization serves quicker.
Based on the change management skills covered in this course, I could have used a
slightly different approach. My team should have gradually trained all of our coworkers in
the processes of the new project. This would have been more beneficial than waiting
months for funding that has not arrived. Because of this wasted time, all employees
involved had to go through 3 consecutive all-day crash courses while still managing their
daily duties. Also, while waiting for the funds, several of my coworkers got nervous about
their positions and found new jobs. I believe some of this could have been avoided if the
team had been assured of their job stability and gradually trained on the details of the new
project.
One change management skill was most relevant to my professional life. It all
comes down toorganization
. Suppose my team had created a clear change management
plan that included new employee roles, goals of the project, and other key factors; it would
have made the change process much smoother. I will ensure that I am looking ahead and
implementing training before it is urgently needed. Overall, I have learned a lot in this
course and am excited to apply it in my future positions.
