Hello everyone,
I need ur help. About 90% of the employees of the Organisation that I have joined recently are middle aged or above that. I am one of the youngest in the group. There are about 500 employees in the organisation.
I am not getting an idea as to how to deal with them. They have the typical stereotype approach & immense ego. But some of them are helpful too. If I would start something new, I am sure they wont welcome it & would retaliate.
I have learnt in my MBA curriculam about change management & also other related topics, but that was bookish & isnot working practically.
Hence plz if u can help me out to draw a strategy to deal with them.
Thanks
Fauzia
From India, Gurgaon
12I need ur help. About 90% of the employees of the Organisation that I have joined recently are middle aged or above that. I am one of the youngest in the group. There are about 500 employees in the organisation.
I am not getting an idea as to how to deal with them. They have the typical stereotype approach & immense ego. But some of them are helpful too. If I would start something new, I am sure they wont welcome it & would retaliate.
I have learnt in my MBA curriculam about change management & also other related topics, but that was bookish & isnot working practically.
Hence plz if u can help me out to draw a strategy to deal with them.
Thanks
Fauzia
From India, Gurgaon
SIMPLE ... dont go to them and just ask them to change some thing ... but you should tell them the reason why you want to change the particular thing ... how organization will benefit from it ... wat benefit THEY will get out of it (Most Important Point) ... wat will be future consequences ... how other employees may respond to change ... how long will it take to implement the change ... who who will be involved in the change process ... and other questions that may come in your mind or you think that the managers may be concerned about.
From Pakistan, Rawal
From Pakistan, Rawal
Hi Faizia,
Firstly, we have to discuss what all you want to change, is it the policies and procedures or something else. For all this you need the involvement of Senior Management.
Secondly, Change Management as mentioned in many of the books is similar to what is written, but implementing it is very challenging job. You need to have clear cut communication with all, the changes implemented will be communicated with the emphasis on the POSITIVE and a brief about the negatives also.
Thirdly, It is your skills and capabilities which will be of maximum help to implement change in the organisation. If you believe in something completely, I think you can convince others also. Yes, it takes time. :wink:
Don't think that old people resist to change, that ways you are also being stereotyped, I have seen many examples when younger people feel insecure from change.
So go ahead, plan well and utilise your skills to the best.
All the best
Archna
From India, Delhi
Firstly, we have to discuss what all you want to change, is it the policies and procedures or something else. For all this you need the involvement of Senior Management.
Secondly, Change Management as mentioned in many of the books is similar to what is written, but implementing it is very challenging job. You need to have clear cut communication with all, the changes implemented will be communicated with the emphasis on the POSITIVE and a brief about the negatives also.
Thirdly, It is your skills and capabilities which will be of maximum help to implement change in the organisation. If you believe in something completely, I think you can convince others also. Yes, it takes time. :wink:
Don't think that old people resist to change, that ways you are also being stereotyped, I have seen many examples when younger people feel insecure from change.
So go ahead, plan well and utilise your skills to the best.
All the best
Archna
From India, Delhi
hi fauzia
This is indeed a vey nice question you have posed
A new member joining the organization and trying to change the existing processes or introducing a new system is always viewed with suspicion and met with skepticism
Try at first to prove yourself in the organization by learning the old (existing)systems and doing things their way
Then once the people are comfortable with you ,then try to bring in changes the way it has been beautifully pointed out by Sufyan.
Regards
From India
This is indeed a vey nice question you have posed
A new member joining the organization and trying to change the existing processes or introducing a new system is always viewed with suspicion and met with skepticism
Try at first to prove yourself in the organization by learning the old (existing)systems and doing things their way
Then once the people are comfortable with you ,then try to bring in changes the way it has been beautifully pointed out by Sufyan.
Regards
From India
hello fauzia
introducing change management requires top management support and initiatives...once that is done you need to invlove everyone in understanding the reasons for change and take suggestions on how to introduce change ...collaboration and involvement helps in introducing change
prof Shikha Sahai
From India, New Delhi
introducing change management requires top management support and initiatives...once that is done you need to invlove everyone in understanding the reasons for change and take suggestions on how to introduce change ...collaboration and involvement helps in introducing change
prof Shikha Sahai
From India, New Delhi
It's hard to be outsider trying to fit in new culture and the age gap doe s not help either.
The first thing I would do is get a mentor; someone who is well respected and has influence.
The second thing I would do is that when you have a great idea, get someone will not only buy your idea but will champion your idea. Right now, don't worry too much about getting the credit for your ideas that will come later, but focus on having your ideas implemented. People don’t like changes and they do not like younger person telling them what to do. However, if the idea is coming from someone they know and trust, there is a good chance it will be accepted.
Get a mentor or couple of mentors, have others champion your bright ideas and see what happens. Good luck and more importantly, have fun.
Suliman
From United States
The first thing I would do is get a mentor; someone who is well respected and has influence.
The second thing I would do is that when you have a great idea, get someone will not only buy your idea but will champion your idea. Right now, don't worry too much about getting the credit for your ideas that will come later, but focus on having your ideas implemented. People don’t like changes and they do not like younger person telling them what to do. However, if the idea is coming from someone they know and trust, there is a good chance it will be accepted.
Get a mentor or couple of mentors, have others champion your bright ideas and see what happens. Good luck and more importantly, have fun.
Suliman
From United States
hi fauzia,
first of all let me share the same scenario in my workplace also...its true that that change the mindset of old employees is a challenging task.but as u know being in hr we believe that every employee has a potential to excel.Here the question is how to bring the best of them with thier existing insecurity.It can be only thru dailogue between those people.talk to those employee, motivate them in a very simple way probably by listing thier greivances,insecurities, fear then consel thm with a compassioante heart.
build confidence among them.generate credibility v vhange thier attitude.
Best wishes
rooma
From India, Lucknow
first of all let me share the same scenario in my workplace also...its true that that change the mindset of old employees is a challenging task.but as u know being in hr we believe that every employee has a potential to excel.Here the question is how to bring the best of them with thier existing insecurity.It can be only thru dailogue between those people.talk to those employee, motivate them in a very simple way probably by listing thier greivances,insecurities, fear then consel thm with a compassioante heart.
build confidence among them.generate credibility v vhange thier attitude.
Best wishes
rooma
From India, Lucknow
Hi friend,
I can understand your situation very well because i also had gone through a similar situation... But in a more worse place... a Govt office.. The people whether old or young had a a stereotypical view that "this is a govt office and u can never change the way it works !"
it is in this situation that i was posted as the Project coordinator for the modernisation of this office. Being an external agent , the first few months i was seen as a person who have come to assess the skill of the people there and was viewed with suspicion.. Infact the union even held protests against me and my coleagues.
however , I was very fortunate to get the full support of the topmost man in the office (District Collector) and my project report was fully accepted by him.. Then onwards , amidst the frowning faces , i conducted triaining sessions and discussions , the project contninued... lot of oppositions came... i could handle it with the help of top management and finally the project was completed in time and when the chief minister came for the inuaguration of the modern premises , the people there had also changed much.... in their attitude. Frowning faces now became happy faces, and its a total change from a govt office ...to a modern clitizen friendly office...
The moral of the story is.... Time and Skill only can bring about changes... and Everywhere people respect a person with skill and attitude be it young or old! ....
So , don't worry that u are in a hostile environment, Keep up your work.. and be the first person to help your seniors in wahtever way you can ... They will surely start loving you.... and admiring you after sometime..
From India, Kochi
I can understand your situation very well because i also had gone through a similar situation... But in a more worse place... a Govt office.. The people whether old or young had a a stereotypical view that "this is a govt office and u can never change the way it works !"
it is in this situation that i was posted as the Project coordinator for the modernisation of this office. Being an external agent , the first few months i was seen as a person who have come to assess the skill of the people there and was viewed with suspicion.. Infact the union even held protests against me and my coleagues.
however , I was very fortunate to get the full support of the topmost man in the office (District Collector) and my project report was fully accepted by him.. Then onwards , amidst the frowning faces , i conducted triaining sessions and discussions , the project contninued... lot of oppositions came... i could handle it with the help of top management and finally the project was completed in time and when the chief minister came for the inuaguration of the modern premises , the people there had also changed much.... in their attitude. Frowning faces now became happy faces, and its a total change from a govt office ...to a modern clitizen friendly office...
The moral of the story is.... Time and Skill only can bring about changes... and Everywhere people respect a person with skill and attitude be it young or old! ....
So , don't worry that u are in a hostile environment, Keep up your work.. and be the first person to help your seniors in wahtever way you can ... They will surely start loving you.... and admiring you after sometime..
From India, Kochi
Thank you very much Suliman, Rooma & Cvadhana. Thank u again for your views.
Especially, Cvadhana, your story was really motivating & now I also feel that by having the right amount of confidence & ability any war can be won. Like you were stuck up in such an environment & still you performed so well. I really want to congratulate you for that.
Thanks
Fauzia
From India, Gurgaon
Especially, Cvadhana, your story was really motivating & now I also feel that by having the right amount of confidence & ability any war can be won. Like you were stuck up in such an environment & still you performed so well. I really want to congratulate you for that.
Thanks
Fauzia
From India, Gurgaon
Hi,
Yes absolutely top management support is a must.But often your own skill/knoweledge and understanding helps the process of winning "them" over.Your mastery of the subject is important.Therefore equip yourself with a knowledge and skill base.
You need to earn the respect of the employees and than move on to winning their confidence.
The approach needs to be more Empathy driven than logic driven.
A practical approach could also be to form a core team of "old"guards who are more receptive to change and carry them along to help the change process.
Give it a shot.
Regards,
Sanjib.
From India, Delhi
Yes absolutely top management support is a must.But often your own skill/knoweledge and understanding helps the process of winning "them" over.Your mastery of the subject is important.Therefore equip yourself with a knowledge and skill base.
You need to earn the respect of the employees and than move on to winning their confidence.
The approach needs to be more Empathy driven than logic driven.
A practical approach could also be to form a core team of "old"guards who are more receptive to change and carry them along to help the change process.
Give it a shot.
Regards,
Sanjib.
From India, Delhi
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