As organizations continue to restructure in this troubled economy, does everyone in the organization understand what the new vision is? Do employees know to whom they will report and how their job may look in the future? In this ever changing environment, employees want to know and understand what will happen to their job and what they will be expected to do after the reorganization is complete. If you are currently taking your team or organization through reorganization and you need to get all of your employees on board, here are a few tips to effectively communicate the new plan:

1. Do not participate in water cooler discussions about the upcoming reorganization plan. When you leak information in dribs and drabs, employees get nervous because they do not have access to the full picture. Wait until your plan is complete, and then make one announcement that encompasses the entire strategy. Participating in water cooler discussions is not the best use of your time.

2. Work your reorganization plan quickly in order to keep productivity up. Some employees will give up on performing certain tasks if they think those duties may be going away after the reorganization is complete. These independent decisions may not take the organization in the direction you desire and could negatively impact overall performance. If you are quick in developing and delivering your plan, employees will have a better understanding of what is expected of them and the duties they should be performing.

3. Be available to your employees to answer questions during reorganization. While you may not be able to answer all of their questions, meeting with them can help alleviate some of their stress about the future. Answer the questions you can, and, with the questions you cannot, be upfront that you are not prepared to answer those questions at this time.

Developing and delivering a reorganization plan during challenging times can be one of the most difficult tasks you will undergo as a leader. Getting information to staff is critical to the future success of your operations. Being able to communicate clearly and with direction at the appropriate times will provide the roadmap for your employees and give you the greatest opportunity for success. Leaking information a bit at a time and to different people will be counterproductive to your end goal. Make your followers understand where you want to take them and how will they get there, and communicate the entire plan at one time.