Change is an inevitable part of any organisation, often eliciting strong emotions among staff, primarily stemming from feelings of powerlessness. During discussions with members in Scotland, it became evident that a focused dialogue on empowering change would be beneficial. In response, Advance HE convened a workshop in Spring 2024 for Scottish members, aimed at navigating through complex and uncertain changes.
The session was facilitated by Sarah Hubbard, Senior Consultant in Leadership, Organisational Development and Research at Advance HE, along with our Leadership Associate Katy Murray and highlighted the importance of open and honest communication, and the value of sharing insights about change and its drivers.
Members also discussed the unique experiences of change within the higher education sector, noting that staff often feel deeply connected to their institution's mission. As a result, change perceived as undermining the university can be felt more personally and intensely. This session focused on how to reshape this narrative to enable creative problem-solving and effective conversations.
Following this event, and based on the key points discussed, we are pleased to present a mini practice guide. This guide uses the reflections and insights from the session, to help develop approaches to dealing with inevitable change. Both a Sway guide and a PowerPoint version are available.
