(Presented by the Staff Wellness Division of the Health and Wellness Centre, in cooperation with Staff Development)

Date:                13 March 2013

Time:               08:30 – 12:30

Venue:            Chancellor’s Room – Centenary Complex

Facilitator:      Prof Peter Rosseel (University of Leuven)

Background:

In today’s world, stability is difficult to find. Although bringing the world to a slower pace may be temporarily beneficial for the body and mind, it is only change that will make it a better world to live in. Change is of all times. What is different today is the speed of change.

Change affects everyone and is difficult for all involved, especially for people who undergo the change. However, a world without change is not one we should aspire to live in. The opportunities a changing environment offers are plentiful, but we do not always (want to) see it that way. Working with people with different values and belief systems, with other relationship preferences, across cultures and nationalities, etc. is fascinating. It can make us a much richer human being in all meanings of the word.

Change management is bridging the gap between what is and what is possible. It is a discipline and it requires discipline. People need clarity where they stand today, where the organisation is going towards and how the organisation tends to do this. Employees need to understand what they do well and what they need to work on, not because they are doing things badly, but because the preferred future requires different ways of working. In return, employees need to be open to respectful and direct feedback. Leaders and managers in organisations have an important role to play in this.

Outcomes:

•  Insights in the different aspects of change management in general and relating to you own environment at UFS in particular.

• How to manage change effectively – how do I help people accept and proactively contribute to the change journey defined.