Things To Consider After That Big Speech About Proposed Changes

If the folks on the factory floor seemed less than enthusiastic, it may be because they heard a similar speech three years ago...from your predecessor.

The employees who have been labeled as cranks and Neanderthals because of their resistance to the proposal might be a little nutty on many things, but that doesn't mean they're wrong on this one. By the way, giving them labels may obscure your ability to see the merit of their arguments.

The minor parts of the proposal in which job titles and reporting relationships were changed are not regarded as minor by the people who were affected. They are seen as attacks on their status ...even by those who will lose no money under the change. Technical change is more readily accepted than changes affecting social status.

Your audience wonders why they are only told about the changes after things are set in concrete and not at the beginning when matters were in draft form. That's not a bad question.

If you feel that these changes need to be hammered through, don't be surprised if you are perceived as a hammer.