Transitions of Change – Getting it Right

Change catches us all by surprise at times. When we least expect it, it comes gallantly from left field and our unsuspecting hearts and minds are trapped in a profusion of chaotic feelings and thoughts--we’re all at sea.

Recently there was a re-organisation of sorts at an unmentioned workplace; one a colleague of mine is engaged at. A consultant was brought in to analyse needs, and the long and the short of it was a cleverly-managed change process took place. Selectively divisions and positions were tweaked and sorted; new positions created--fresh relationships formed and existing ones severed. Nothing to see here; it happens everywhere, all the time.

The classic thing this organisation did was it gave those most affected time to get used to the idea.

I thought of the same thing in the home. When we require one of the family to adopt a change, we best do it in a friendly environment where there’s time for feelings to adjust, and to sort of catch up mentally and emotionally with the ‘new’ reality of things.

Allowing those required to change the time to assimilate the new reality that’s effectively foisted on them is the least the change agent should do. And they need a certain patience with the notorious ‘slow adjuster,’ who just seems intent on stressing about every little detail, whether it’s in their control or not. Yep, for every change there’s at least one of these.

As people we get pretty darn attached to our created world and worldviews, don’t we? We’re creatures of habit who don’t like change much. Of course, there are exceptions. Some love the challenge of change, but perhaps to the derision of those who can’t stand it.

But it also begs the imperative, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’

Copyright © 2009, S. J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved.