Q: My organization is interested in how we can help our employees be better prepared for unexpected change in our work environment. We’ve been focused on issues around the physical workplace but not much on helping our staff deal with fast-moving change. Any ideas for us?

A:  I applaud you for wanting to help your staff prepare for change. If we’ve learned nothing else from the pandemic, we know how quickly our work and personal lives can change.

We now must think about another major change. I’m glad your organization is dealing with the very practical issues around the workplace and other pandemic-related challenges. It is great that you are also thinking of your staff.

Since we have no idea what is ahead for any of us, the best thing I can suggest is that you focus on building trust in your leadership and in our organization so that when change comes, your employees will come right alongside your leaders as they keep the organization on track.

Building trust takes work. Hopefully, you are starting from a good place where you leaders have done the right things. Be sure your staff understands you care about them—not just as employees but as human beings. This sense of caring will go a long way toward building trust in your leaders to have their best interests at heart.

I know it sounds trite but over-communicate with your employees. Keep them up to date on your thinking. Transparency is highly valued.  This means the good and the not so good things that are happening in your organization.

Be sure your staff understands you care about them—not just as employees but as human beings. This sense of caring will go a long way toward building trust in your leaders to have their best interests at heart.

Use every form of communication available— meetings, Zoom calls, email. Don’t overlook what may be your best trust-building weapon of all: the phone. Research shows that a personal call from a leader just to check on how they are doing can have a positive effect—so reach out by phone whenever possible.

Ask your team members for information and for suggestions. They may hear things you don’t hear so ask them for feedback. You may also get a jump on some intelligence while allowing your employee to be helpful and to feel needed.

Be as kind to your staff as possible. Times of change present an elevated level of stress, so do anything you can do to ease their burden. Listen to their concerns and act when you can to make things better.

If your employees trust you and your organization, when unexpected changes happen, they will be right there with you ready to meet it head-on.