Change. We manage it, we lead it, we drive it. But how do we survive it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even minor disruptions to our plans and expectations can set off a chain reaction (or a change reaction?) in our minds. Yesterday I went from \u2018the client has moved the session\u2019 \ud83e\udd14 to \u2018my whole business model is unsustainable\u2019 \ud83d\ude31 in a matter of minutes. And breathe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To make it harder, we all have different responses, shaped by who we are and where we happen to be when a change hits. So \u2018managing change\u2019 for a group can feel like juggling fifteen different balls and probably dropping them all at some point or another. Oh, you like to have as much information as possible even if it\u2019s uncertain. Oh, you prefer only to talk about it in 1:1. Oh, you need more time to adjust. Oh, you want to get moving straight away because more waiting just makes you anxious. Oh, you wanted to be consulted more. Oh, you wanted less talking and more doing. Oh, you\u2019ve already made the change and are frustrated with everyone dragging their heals. It often feels like we just can\u2019t win\ud83e\udd74.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Catching myself catastrophising yesterday reminded me that what feels like a small change for one person can hit another in a completely different way. I still remember leading an office move (pre-pandemic) and being amazed by how worked up people got about their desks. I just wasn\u2019t bothered about whether I could sit in the same place every day or have my favourite nick-nacks on display, but for some of the team it felt like a huge disruption that needed airtime, attention and understanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whatever the change is that you\u2019re managing, leading, driving or just trying to survive, here are I few things that can help:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83d\ude4a Give people their say. Even if they can\u2019t change things (and if they can\u2019t then make that clear), it still helps if people can be given the opportunity to talk about what\u2019s coming, to voice their fears, disagreements or concerns. Allow questions even if you don\u2019t know the answers (and be as honest as you can when that\u2019s the case).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83d\ude49 Listen to understand. There\u2019s little point allowing people to talk if you then don\u2019t listen, or, maybe worse, listen only to win or to fix. So, when someone raises an issue, instead of trying to soothe it away, just allow it to be. \u201cI can see that this is concerning you and that it\u2019s unsettling\u201d rather than \u201cDon\u2019t worry, it\u2019ll all be ok because\u2026\u201d This can take a lot of self control, as managers it usually is our job to \u2018fix\u2019 things. We jump automatically to solutions, when sometimes all that’s really wanted is acknowledgment of the impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83d\ude48 Make an effort to see the world through the eyes of others. Don\u2019t assume they\u2019ll have the same perspective as you. Instead, get curious and create space for all sorts of different takes on what\u2019s happening. It can be tricky here to allow viewpoints to be expressed without judging or \u2018correcting\u2019 them, especially when emotions (and conspiracy theories) run high. Try speaking unarguably<\/em>, that is, only in terms of the facts of the matter. So instead of \u201cwe\u2019ve done all we can to consult people\u201d describe what has been done to consult people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n None of this will be new to you, but sometimes it\u2019s worth taking a breath and reminding ourselves of the basics.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Change hits and throws everything up in the air. Even something small can feel like a disaster. Some thoughts here on leading through it. <\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8011,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[14,8,50],"class_list":["post-8010","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-change","tag-coaching","tag-leadership-tips"],"yoast_head":"\n