M8.6: Self-Reflection

Now that you have completed this graduate course on change management, it is time to reflect on the course as a whole. We encourage you to use these questions to guide you through changes in your job and/or career. These questions are also useful for better understanding your employees. Do you believe your answers to these questions are different now at the end of the course than they would have been at the start? What new information have I learned from this course?

What surprised me about what I learned?
Where were my roadblocks to completing the modules of this course?
How did I move through roadblocks or challenges?
What do I plan to do daily to remind my employees of the organization’s mission and values?
How do I plan to lead during change in my organization?
Identify some ways a leader can communicate their vision so that employees will share it.
Identify three steps you will take to continue learning to be a more effective leader.
How do you define resilience? Do you believe resilience can be promoted?
To complete your reflection, you can use the text box or upload a file. This is a short conversational piece, it does not need to be written in APA format.

M8.6: Self-Reflection

What surprised me about what I learned?

I was surprised to learn that resistance to change is the most common hindrance to organizational change. Before this course, I would have said that the lack of finances or poor leadership are the most common reasons why the implementation of change in organizations fails. I have learned that while financial and leadership challenges may affect change implementation, resistance to change is the most common and most difficult challenge to deal with during change implementation.

Where were my roadblocks to completing the modules of this course?

I was able to complete all the modules of this course in time. Some of the challenges that I encountered included short assignment deadlines and inadequate time to conduct research. I was having trouble finding enough time to conduct research for assignment completion while going through the course material and assigned readings.

How did I move through roadblocks or challenges?

By prioritizing my course work and avoiding last-minute work, I was able to complete every assignment on time and submit my work before deadlines. I also concentrated largely on the course readings and course material, using assigned readings and course material as information sources for assignment completion.

What do I plan to do daily to remind my employees of the organization’s mission and values?

Ensuring that employees are aware of the organization’s mission and values is important since it ensures that everyone remains focused and works towards the fulfillment of the mission and vision. I will inform and remind the employees of the mission, vision, and values of the organization by:

1. Ensuring open communication and an open-door policy to ensure that employees feel free to speak up and ask questions.
2. Reminding employees of the mission and core values during weekly meetings and performance appraisals.

How do I plan to lead during change in my organization?

1. Ensuring that employees are adequately informed about the change and why it is necessary.
2. Ensuring that the employees know what is needed of them.
3. Ensuring that everyone is involved in the change process.
4. Ensuring that the change implementation outcome is evaluated to determine what could have been done better.

Identify some ways a leader can communicate their vision so that employees will share it.

1. Explaining to employees the benefits of having a vision.
2. Explaining to the employees how the achievement of the vision will benefit them and the organization (Jensen, Moynihan, & Salomonsen, 2018).
3. Ensuring a good relationship with the employees.

Identify three steps you will take to continue learning to be a more effective leader.

1. Conducting audits of change implementation within the organization to learn from mistakes.
2. Keeping myself updated by reading new research and books on change management.
3. Involving managers and employees in every change process and encouraging them to communicate their ideas and thoughts. This will enable me to learn from other leaders and managers.

How do you define resilience? Do you believe resilience can be promoted?

Resilience is the ability of an organization to anticipate or predict, prepare for, respond, and adapt to any incremental change or disruption to prosper and survive (Ortiz‐de‐Mandojana & Bansal, 2016). Resilience can be promoted in an organization by ensuring readiness to change and by ensuring that employees are willing to change rather than being resistant to any change. This involves breaking down any silos that may exist within an organization.

References

Jensen, U. T., Moynihan, D. P., & Salomonsen, H. H. (2018). Communicating the Vision: How Face‐to‐Face Dialogue Facilitates Transformational Leadership. Public Administration Review, 78(3), 350-361.

Ortiz‐de‐Mandojana, N., & Bansal, P. (2016). The long‐term benefits of organizational resilience through sustainable business practices. Strategic Management Journal, 37(8), 1615-1631.