After a year of unparalleled urgency for organizations and their employees to shift quickly, adopt new tools, new processes, new technologies, and in some cases, new roles, being able to understand , support and manage change is fast becoming the expectation, rather than the exception in organizations around the world.

Change Management means preparing, equipping and supporting individuals who are experiencing organizational change. It means an opportunity for organizations to ensure their maximum return on investment on initiatives, and leaders can see the expected benefits realized on the projects they initiate.

Shortly after I graduated college, I became a sales manager at large retail department store in the heart of New York City. Being about 21 years old, expected to supervise sales associates older than me, being responsible for millions of dollars of business, while facing the threat of online sales competing with brick-and-mortar sales — all very intimidating! I had to develop change management competency if I were to deliver the customer engagement transformation and the sales results senior leaders were looking for. I tell this story often – most recently to author, business coach and podcaster, Kelley Rowland on her podcast, Brazen and Brave. Listen here.

As college students graduate institutions and integrate into the working world, they will benefit from the knowledge and skills of change management, from wherever they sit in an organization. Several reports over the past decade note a distinct trend of students feeling that their undergraduate experience was not preparing them to successfully make the leap into their careers. Employers likewise are noting significant skill gaps among many areas, including critical thinking/problem solving, teamwork/collaboration, leadership, and global/intercultural fluency.

What would it look like if entry level professionals, college students and graduates were able to walk into organizations and bring immediate value – by being ready to support the necessary shifts for organizations to accelerate growth, ensure sales, improve operations and collaboration?

If you’d like to be part of the solution, feel free to contact me for more details.