Adapt to Change

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.

―?Leo Tolstoy

One of the things I learned while working on various large scale transformation projects is that change is hard. ?

Sure, implementing whole new systems and technology is a big lift for the project team.? Lots of details need to be figured out and technical problems solved.? But that is actually not the biggest challenge.

The biggest challenge is helping regular employees adapt to the changes. ?

First off, people are used to the status quo.? They know how the old system works and they know how to get their job done.? It is comfortable and familiar.

And they don’t know the new system.

Of course, they attended training, they have their PDF step-by-step guide, and how-to manuals.? But they don’t really know the new way, not like the old way.? And that scares them.

• They’re afraid to they’ll make mistakes.
• They’re afraid to look silly or stupid.
• They’re afraid they may lose their job if they get it wrong.

So they resist.

“The new system doesn’t work” they’ll say.? “I didn’t get enough training.”? Or “I can’t get my work done, can’t we go back to the old way?”

They look to their boss for guidance.? And if they can’t answer all their questions or explain, again, why they need to make the change, they’ll throw their hands up in frustration and complain some more. ?

Change management teams work very hard to help prepare organizations going through any kind of change. And all that work is ultimately to help regular employees overcome the fear to try something new.

What is important to understand is the same dynamic plays out exactly the same way in our own lives.

Consider the whole effort around setting New Year’s resolutions or creating goals for the year.? People want to make a change in their life and that is why they set these goals.? They want to get in shape or they want to find a new job or they want to learn to speak up more - or whatever. ?

But only about 11% of people who set goals or resolutions are still on track a couple of months into the year.

Why is that?

It is because change is hard. ?

• You don’t want to look foolish when you go to the gym.
• You don’t want that awkward feeling not knowing how to do something.
• You don’t like being “bad” at something.
• And so you revert to what you know, your old patterns, your familiar routines. ?

A year later, you are in exactly the same place you were last year.

Are you okay with that?

If not, then maybe you are ready to make that change.? Here are a few tips to help you along the way:

Articulate your why

Why is this change important to you?? What would it feel like if you were successful?? What do you need to change in your life in order to be successful?

Acknowledge you will be bad

If you are already great at the skill, then is it really an area of growth for you?? To become better at a thing, you are going suck at the beginning.? This is normal.? And, as you are figuring it out or getting stronger, you will be messy and awkward. Don’t worry, it will pass.? Everyone goes through this.

Change one thing

Pick one thing you are willing to add, remove, or otherwise adjust and commit to that change for 30 days.? And don’t wait for the calendar to switch - start today.

Set aside 10 minutes per day to do the new thing

Everyone can find 10 minutes.? Ideally, pair it with an existing routine or habit.? For instance, if you feed the cat at 7 AM, then do the new habit right after you feed the cat.? That way, it will be easier to do the new thing again tomorrow at the same time. ?

Track your progress

“What gets measured, gets done”.? This can be as high tech or low tech as you want.? Some people I know use spreadsheets and charts to track their progress while others use nothing more complicated than a piece of paper with notations they scribble on each day.

Find an accountability partner

Maybe this is joining a group who all share the same goal (say, like a running group).? Or talk to a family member you trust and have them hold you accountable - commit to them.? Alternatively, reach out to a coach to help challenge you and support you when you stumble. ?

If you are ready to make a change but are still not sure where to start, then send me a DM and let’s get on a call.? No charge, simply let’s talk through what you want to change and I can help you prioritize your next steps. ?

In the meantime, this week, I also published several videos exploring a variety of topics.

What are you sacrificing?

There is a product design model that states you can have quality, you can have it quick, and you can have it cheap - except you can only pick two.? The same applies to our work. ?

In this video, I discuss how you are overworking yourself because you are trying to have all three.? What are you willing to sacrifice in order to get your work done and keep yourself on track?

Creating a Leadership Impact

Everything you do creates an impact. This impact is unique to you and is your personal stamp on the world.? But not understanding your impact means that you risk saying the wrong thing, being ignored, or not having the influence you need or want to have.

In this video, I discuss why this is important and how you can learn the impact you have and what you can do with that impact.

Setting Expectations with your Team

Gallup did a study of over 100K teams and 3 million employees and learned a series of leadership practices that helped improve employee engagement.? One of the questions they asked managers to explore is whether employees knew what was expected of them.

In this video, I discuss how you can effectively uncover whether your employees are aligned with the department’s goals and expectations around quality.

Next week, I will be talking about why I do what I do. Why coaching? Why do I support leaders in energy? What kind of change can I help you achieve? If this interests you but you just can't wait, then let's book a call and we can talk directly about these topics and more.