Change is inevitable, Just look around you at what has occurred over the last twelve months. The only question is how are you and your employees going to deal with those on coming lights. In large part the future success of your organization is going to be determined by how well you and your team anticipate and deal with changes that are being imposed on your family, business, market and even this country.

Consider the following survival tips that I have found universally effective for communicating and facilitating the change process:

1. Ask guiding questions so the person or team you are working with arrives at the best logical conclusion on their own merit without being told “the correct answer”. Be wary of the temptation to manipulate the discussion to lead them down the path you think correct, even if your experience tells you there is only one answer.

2. Be open to new and other ways of doing things, or even different choices when it is not crucial – remember to pick your battles to win the war. Just because you have always done it a certain way doesn’t mean you can’t achieve success with another approach. Be flexible.

3. Be genuine at all times. Trust is the foundation of all leadership. Your team will know when you are not being genuine with them and will resent you for it.

4. Listen more – keep asking engaged questions. Explore a train of thought as far as possible before intervening. Ask more questions to understand the reasoning before reaching a conclusion.

5. Acknowledge what is being done well (even progress), redirect negative behavior by focusing on what they are doing right or provide coaching suggestions for their consideration in areas that need improvement.

6. Emphasize the positive. If you can’t contribute something that can improve the situation, wait until you can. Use the “yes, and” technique when someone is upset. Listen, ask questions and acknowledge their upset without judgment.

7. Delivery style – how you say it is more important than the actual words you say. The basis of trust and positive reinforcement has to be established before people can accept suggestions or coaching. Pay more attention to tone of voice and body language than the actual words.

8. State your expectations clearly. If necessary, write them down. Never assume people can read your mind or interpret your implied signals.

9. Avoid manipulation. Keep checking in with yourself to make sure your focus is on what is best for the greater good.

10. There is no one right way. Always look for the win/win. Give your problem solving process the time needed so you can examine your conclusions from all angles.

Change is usually abrupt and driven from outside events or conditions. Transformational change is always internally driven and evolves over time. When a transformation occurs in a family, organization or within an individual, it allows for natural growth and understanding, which will always be more lasting. Success does not have to be illusive or based on luck. Your future success will be dependent upon your continuous commitment to being adaptable, creative, flexible and opportunistic.

"Riding the Wave: The Challenge of Facilitating Change" © , Ricci M. Victorio, Family Business Resource Center.