20 Tips for Managing Change in the Contact Centre

Our panel share their best advice on managing change in the contact centre.

1. Where to Start

When it comes to effective change communication, always start with finding the two ‘Why?’ answers.

The first one isn’t ‘why change?’ – it’s ‘why are your people here in the first place?’ What is the shared ethic or commitment your teams have? What is your vision and value which brings people together?

Once you can answer this, link it to the second ‘Why?’ – which is ‘why change?’ What does this change do to achieve the first?

Thanks to PhilQuickenden

2. Know Your WHY

Know your WHY. Have talks with all team members about all the barriers to success. Create a plan to mitigate the barriers using everyone’s expertise. Bring everyone’s focus to the success of the change.

Thanks to Nichole

3. Include Your Frontline Staff in Feedback

For better change results, include your frontline staff in an agile way by giving feedback for projects and work evolution. We have this for senior employees and it goes very well.

Thanks to Carl

4. Have Regular Updates With the Management Team

Have regular updates with the management team to check everyone is on track with tasks and how to overcome any obstacles.

Feedback to the wider team with updates on where you are in the change. Have an end-of-change meeting with various stakeholders to discuss what went well and what could have been better to improve how you manage change in the future.

Thanks to Christine

5. Include the Frontline Team

We have worked really hard to include the frontline team in the changes that are to be made. They are the ones working with the customers and have first-hand experience with what they are hearing, so to move change forward, it needs to be together!

Thanks to Justine

6. Create a Bottom-Up Strategy

In our organization we take time with a group of employees and bring them in an agile way to deliver evolution of the job and technology. We observed that it helps the change management to have a bottom-up strategy.

Thanks to Carl

7. Invite Your Team to Be Involved

Teamwork is the key! Invite your team to be involved in the changes made within the business. Trust and empower your team members to be creative and to help provide ideas in order to make effective changes, and incentivize them accordingly for doing so!

Thanks to Richie

8. Ask Your Employees

Ask your employees would they buy from you / use your services? Why or why not?

Thanks to Andrea

9. Use the Insight of the Frontline Agents

Use the insight of the frontline agents. They are your best resource!

Thanks to Justine

10. Empower Your Staff to Deliver the Change

Empower your staff to deliver the change you want to see – they will only impress and surprise you.

Thanks to PhilQuickenden

11. Understand That Change Is Inevitable

Understanding that change is inevitable and always happening is the most important piece of making change and keeping the change in place.

Thanks to Taryn

12. Provide Ongoing Feedback

Providing ongoing feedback and leading by example is key.

Thanks to Latasha

13. Engage and Include the Frontline Agents’ Views

The further you are from the frontline, the more ignorant you are. So true – you have to engage and include their views on direction changes.

Thanks to RoxanneGreen

14. Let Your Employees Know Why the Changes Are Being Made

Let your employees know why the changes are being made, ask their thoughts, and make sure to action any that are relevant.

Thanks to Karen

15. People Are Generally Wary of Change

People are generally wary of change when it is done to them, and not with them.

Thanks to Sarah

16. Have a Management Member

Having a management member mirror the change to the task shows it’s achievable and positive.

Thanks to Liam

17. Have a Trained Advocate in Each Team

Have a trained advocate in each team to support other team members.

Thanks to Karen

18. Be Kind

Be kind. Everyone is dealing with a hard battle.

Thanks to Justine

19. Invest in Learning & Development

I think one of the biggest challenges is failing to invest in L&D, something many contact centres are still to recognize. People not only want to be coached, they want the opportunity to learn and grow.

Thanks to Sarah

20. Adopt NPS

We have adopted NPS to help assist the agents in the call centre in handling customer calls more efficiently and thus reducing multiple calls/email contacts from the customer.

Thanks to Justine

For more great tips check out our 2022 webinar ‘Managing Change in the Contact Centre‘.

Check out some more articles on call centre change:

Author: Rachael Trickey

Published On: 8th Mar 2023
Read more about - Hints and Tips, Feedback, Team Management