Effective work conversations when the message is confronting
Mining and Resources, Change management
Situation
The client is a multi-national mining company, mining a range of resources across a number of different countries. One particular site in Asia had been undergoing a significant amount of change, including changes to structure and roles. Site managers had indicated a need for training sessions on change management, particularly in relation to undertaking potentially difficult conversations with staff directly affected by the change. Both the General Manager of Human Resources (Head Office) and the site HR staff supported this work.
Solution
A process was designed for managers to:
- Increase their understanding of the process of change and how this might affect individuals
- Learn change management strategies to assist them in managing their teams and themselves through the changes
- Increase their confidence and skills in dealing with difficult or emotive situations with employees.
The process consisted of three key phases:
- A bespoke pretest aimed at understanding leaders’ current capability and experience in dealing with high emotion or potentially difficult situations
- A group training session to develop capability and knowledge further
- Individual coaching sessions with each of the leaders on specific concerns or challenges.
Outcome
Feedback from the managers and superintendents after the sessions included:
- An increased level of confidence in stepping up to the ‘difficult’ aspects of the leader role
- Increased confidence in having effective conversations where high emotion was likely
- A smooth change process in which those affected by the change smoothly transitioned into their next move (within the business or exiting the business)
