The change and success starts in the individual
Extracts from Helena Åhman’s presentation at Prewise’s Change & Profit event 10.9.
The biggest obstacles for change and success are in our mind, says Helena Åhman. Developing thinking is the base for a company’s success.
| Personal development – managing the mind – is the basis for additional development. The concept ”managing the mind” launched by Åhman, means positive attitude towards oneself, others and surroundings. Seeing own personal recourses creatively, appreciating other people, and finding new possibilities even from problematic situations create strength and flexibility to personal behavior. Setting targets, being open minded, managing the mind, and controlling the communication is also part of the mind management. |
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The management team is the change accelerator
There is a lot of talk about change, but why is it that the change is so difficult in practice for companies? Where the change process gets stuck in the practice?
The management team has an important role in accelerating the change and development, says Åhman. A management team which is eager and willing to learn, and willing to develop itself, sets a good example for the rest of the organization. The management team should have a clear and consistent picture of the goals and strategy. With the management’s own behavior and example the management team creates an implementation culture to the organization.
The art of living is in the change
The change situation on the individual level is basically learning something new. What the individual thinks and which stand the individual takes to the change matters. If the attitude is negative, it can become an obstacle for the change or doing the job. The way we get people to think in the change situation matters.
Through positive images and a positive story we can affect people’s way of thinking, their attitudes and beliefs. In the change situation the atmosphere matters: is there a fear of blundering in the organization or is the kind of attitude encouraged where new things are tried and maybe somebody blunders but learns from it? Changing own attitudes and behavior is not done in a second. With the help of continuous practicing and feedback the attitudes and behavior can slowly change.
People are seeking simplicity into their lives. In the change situation it is important to create a feeling of clarity, and this is the management’s duty. Simplifying and concretizing things – what does this change mean in my job – creates a feeling of control. When things and mode of operations change, it is important that the employee has a feeling that he is in control.
Helena Åhman, PhD in Technology and Work Psychology, is one of Finland’s most wanted lecturers for corporate companies. She is the Chairman of the Board and Chief Creative Officer for Hunting Minds Oy, and she lectured in the Prewise’s Change and Profit event on ” The change and success starts in the individual”.
Text: Jaana Raaska