Changing times: how to get your people on board

Whether it’s technology, the economy or people, if 2020 has shown anything it’s that the world is constantly changing. To survive and thrive, companies of all shapes and sizes need to move with the times or risk being left behind. But however necessary or beneficial changes may be for both employees and customers, getting your colleagues to embrace these changes can be easier said than done. In fact, the technical challenges of change often pale in comparison to the most significant obstacle of all — internal resistance.

So, whether you’re setting up new tech platforms, updating your payment processes, implementing travel policy changes or transitioning to a new travel management company (TMC), how can you remove the fear of change and get staff to actively embrace the new norms? 

Corona_Summary

If it ain't broke... make it better

First things first: why should you make changes to your travel programme if it’s working just fine - and especially if it isn’t? The travel landscape is constantly evolving, and the pace has only increased during the Covid-19 pandemic. To ensure your travellers’ safety, meet your business’ duty of care obligations and make your budget work harder, you need to make sure your travel programme keeps up. This could mean creating a temporary travel policy, updating your supplier agreements or implementing a travel risk management tool.

But change isn’t just about ensuring you don’t get left behind – it’s about enhancing your travel programme and making it the best it can be, so that you can reap the rewards in the long run. From getting greater transparency on costs and reporting to deliver cost savings, to providing a better traveller experience on-the-go by implementing mobile travel tech, there countless opportunities for savvy travel managers to develop and improve their travel programme. 

Turning 'But…' into 'Yes!'

Change is essential to improve your programme, however it’s a universal truth that whilst people often say they like change, many of us naturally resist it. It feels risky. It threatens our routines and undermines our feelings of security. In fact, there are a whole host of reasons why we resist change; according to the Harvard Business Review these include loss of control, uncertainty, concerns around competence and extra work. Thankfully, there are several tried and tested best practices to follow to help get your colleagues on board. 

1. Understand

Before starting, it’s essential to understand the lay of the land. What does your current system, process or policy look like? Do your colleagues follow them? And if not – why not? Get input and feedback from stakeholders across your business to help understand behaviours, drivers and pain points. You can then develop solutions that are easier, simpler and better for them – giving you the best chance of adoption.

2. Communicate

A common cause of traveller friction is simply not being told the reasoning behind policy changes. Good communication is the cornerstone of any successful change management, so work with your travel team to identify the best ways to let people know what’s happening and why – and what this means for them.

3. Motivate

One of the easiest ways to encourage your colleagues is to highlight the positive aspects of the change and make them active participants. Put simply, say what’s in it for them. From time savings to increased safety, by highlighting the benefits your colleagues will adapt because they want to, not because they’re being asked to.  

4. Check-in

Your implementation won’t happen overnight; even the smallest changes take time to become ingrained. Take regular temperature checks, ask for feedback to identify any issues and talk to your Travel Manager as the changes are being rolled out to gauge how you’re tracking against your objectives. They can analyse any policy leaks using reporting and metrics and create new tactics to combat non-compliance.

Whilst resistance to change is natural, for a successful organisation transformation it’s essential to get your people onboard. After all, companies can’t change if their people don’t.  At Corporate Traveller we’ve helped thousands of businesses implement changes in their travel programme quickly, easily and successfully. Our change management support takes the work off your hands, and is designed to save you time fastersave you money faster and deliver a better travel experience for your workforce faster. So, if you’re ready to make a change, get in touch to ask how we can help.

Updating your travel policy? 

New business travel policies are particularly vulnerable to internal resistance, as they directly impact employees’ individual experience. While the rationale for implementing changes may be entirely sound, it’s often irrelevant to the traveller who has to accept a loss of loyalty status or a reduction in the comfort they regularly enjoy when travelling. Download our three-step plan to help you minimise resistance to your new policy.

Ready to get back to business?

We can help you get your travel programme moving again. 

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