It is fair to say that over the last decade or so, the solid waste industry has been dealt its share of challenges and adversity. The declining waste tonnage and revenues experienced during the “Great Recession” of 2007 to 2009 forced many operations to “tighten their belts” and transition toward leaner operational processes while reducing staffing and equipment levels. More recently, challenges relating to the global recycling market are forcing the industry to reduce operating costs while scrambling to find markets for the growing stockpiles of recycled commodities. Regardless of the challenge at hand, the staff is integral in the success or failure of a process or an entire operation. 

But your staff may struggle with adapting to change. Partly due to fear and partly due to simply being used to doing things a certain way. You might experience “push back” from your staff because well, change isn’t easy, and most of us tend to resist it. The challenge as a manager is to communicate these changes to your staff, motivate them to buy-in to new ways of doing things, and give them the practical tools (training, standard operating procedures) to succeed. 

Change doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Read about some ways to make the whole process smoother here.