We’ve all heard the saying: nothing is certain in life apart from change.  

So why are we all still afraid of making change? Fear of change is just fear of the unknown, which is especially prevalent for employees when changes are made at work. Big changes are usually made by senior leaders, and staff aren’t often included in the decision-making process. This means change is thrust upon them – staff don't understand why things are changing, when the change is going to happen and what the impacts will be, so it’s natural for them to resist.  

Workplace changes come in all shapes and sizes – whether you’re switching software or restructuring entire departments. Changes are necessary, but they're likely to disrupt the status quo in the office. Employees will react to this in different ways – they may be confused about a new system, nervous to meet new staff or even anxious about losing their job.  

The good thing is, there are some easy steps you can follow to make the transition smoother:  

1. Be positive

Be the change you want to see. Make sure you buy in to the change and model the behaviours you want to see from your team. When they know you’re on board, they’re sure to follow suit.  

2. Listen & communicate

The biggest problem with change is fear of the unknown, so give your staff as much information about the change as possible. Communicate through meetings, emails, one-on-one discussions – just make sure you cover all the bases and give people enough time to get used to the idea before you go full steam ahead.  

3. Rationalise the risks 

Some employees will worry that they won’t be able to do their job as well after the change, or that the business will suffer in some way. Take the time to listen to their concerns and rationalise the risks with real facts and experience. You could even find other organisations that have gone through similar changes and share their story. 

4. Sing the benefits 

You haven’t just decided to change things on a whim, so explain all the benefits the change will bring. Think about business advantages, but remember to demonstrate how the change will make your employees’ lives easier too.  

5. Train your team  

Some employees may be concerned that they don’t have the right skills to react to the change – especially if the change is a new software or process. Make sure you arrange plenty of training on the new system and demonstrate just how easy it’s going to be.  

At OneFile, we understand changing to a new software is a big deal. That’s why we provide tons of training and support to new customers to make the transition as easy as possible for all members of staff. We also provide free on-site training, webinars, technical support and user guides to everyone, and we’re the only eportfolio that supports learners too.  

Our software is also really easy to use and we’ve made the whole switching process as simple as possible. To find out just how easy it is, download our switching guide. It will guide you through each stage of the process – from booking a demo to customising your centre.