Machiavelli said “There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.”  Those challenging words can leave those of us in leadership positions scratching our heads when it comes time to manage and lead our companies through turbulent waters.

So why is it so important to develop a change leadership competency?  For the simple reason that change will be with us forever and in order to survive and prosper, we have to develop a competency for leading change.

The next question you’re asking may be, what’s in it for me?  Consider the following three benefits.

1. Increasing productivity – if this recession has taught us anything it is that we are often forced to do more with less.  This economic reality has forced us to find ways to be more productive.  Whether it’s moving your product out the door faster, streamlining your supply chain or setting up a virtual workplace, change can lead to an increase in productivity.

2. Saving time and money – we certainly know we have a finite resource with time and as business leaders, we have a fiduciary responsibility to make money for our stakeholders.  Embracing change forces us to constantly look for ways to save time and save money.  Developing a culture of change leadership encourages the workforce to be positive change agents regarding time and money.

3. Increasing production capability – a side effect of this recession is that many companies have made a potentially fatal mistake of killing the goose that lays the golden egg.  By that I mean, instead of viewing change as a gift, we view it as punishment and we get through the period of austerity by working all our resources that much harder.

Developing a change leadership competency faces the reality that change is a constant.  Embrace the change and foster a change leadership competency.