An Alternative View of Change...

An alternate view of change

Sometimes in our corporate environments, it seems as though change is constantly happening. For some the perception that change never stops can be overwhelming and feel like a deluge or flood. Perhaps, it might be a good idea to take a look at change from a different perspective and understand what’s happening to us as individuals as we encounter and go through change.

For most of us, change is something that we notice because it requires us to alter our habits. Inherently there is nothing “wrong” with the feelings of discomfort that many of us experience when it comes to change. Although oftentimes if we are aware, we can acknowledge this discomfort and it doesn’t mean that somehow things will be perfect, immediately better, or even easy.

Let’s look quickly at what happens to us personally when we either have to go through change or even start to consider making changes ourselves.

First, there is the issue of information and then motivation. When we change anything that we are used to doing we first absorb relevant information that allows us to make decisions around whether we will, won’t, or even must change. Sometime this is a curse and a blessing at the same time. Sometimes the information is coarse and tough to hear or might hurt our feelings, or perhaps confuse us. Of course, the truth allows us to make stable decisions but sometimes the information we need gets mixed with embellishment and opinion and by the time it gets to us - it isn’t accurate. So, the first step in changing from a perspective of what you can control is to make sure you have the right information. Seek out information from a source that either originates it or someone reliable to that source. Make sure you understand the information – that is to say, read it, listen to it etc., with the intent on understanding it. Certainly, if you have questions ask your own (questions) to gain clarity. Once you have the appropriate information you can embrace a decision.

When it comes to the motivation for change, things can get a little unscientific. That simply means there are but few change patterns that really take us as a human race through change. The studies are consistent in seeing these pattern in individuals and in groups as well as organizations. The consistent element is that what is experienced at an individual level is also mirrored in large groups and in organizations.

Initial denial, resistance, gradual exploration and eventual commitment are the normal, seen reactions to change. So, lets see how this affects our motivation. When we deny anything we are operating from a place that what we are not denying brings no benefit in its absence. Because we see no benefit we resist being an active participant in the change which can lead to being demotivated in the process. Over time, when the change is in place and we see that it is not so bad after all, we typically explore it and you can imagine that our motivation increases when we begin to see the new changes implemented without pain or injury then our motivation begins to turn towards embracing the change. Finally, as we embrace the change, we become more motivated to support it and become a committed person to the change.

A major problem even at the most motivated level is that we have done somethings for so long that it becomes difficult to change in a smooth manner. This could include anxiety, angst, uncertainty, physiological or visceral reactions, or even just feeling lost. In this despair there are things you can do to begin changing the hardwired neural patterns that we call habit.

?Within your control are the key elements for personal change. The thought is, if you will have changed, then you help change the organization for the better.

First to know is how we get to a habit. Thoughts become beliefs, beliefs become desires and desires become behaviors. Behaviors that bring us pleasure become habit 10 times quicker than those do not (e.g. eating certain foods, drinking certain drinks, working too much, sleeping too little, or even watching your favorite show in lieu of some urgent and important task you would normally do)

If you think change is scary or painful than it will be and you will avoid it. We all avoid pain, its natural. However, Change is all you have been going through your whole life - from your entire skin every two years to your bone size, your temperament, your capabilities, and so many more changes we could not capture them all in this blog. So, what we think about Change is important. If we didn’t change and adapt, many of us would no longer exist.

So, we have to groom our thoughts, by feeding it the right information. If it is a personal change learn as much as you can about how it will affect your life and your comforts. Allow your awareness to counter the discomforts you imagine with alternative thoughts (any and all-thoughts welcome) If it is a change related to your job and career, learn as much of the right information as you can- So, that what you believe is based on truth versus what your misguided thoughts may tell you or from hearsay and rumor. Knowing the truth or the right information allows you to create stable beliefs.

In most cases our beliefs created in times of flux or during moments of change create really strong desires. Almost passion if you will. That is to say if, we believe something is good in terms of change, we become anxious and passionate about learning more about it and finding out what’s in it for you. On the other hand, if we think or perceive a change to be a bad thing, we do not think of alternatives, we don’t embrace it, we don’t figure out how to make it work for us, and we do not try to gain more clarity. Normally this perspective leads to resistance. In any state of resistance learning is difficult and even if you have to be a part of the change you will lag because” bad” beliefs, created “bad” desires and our desires became behaviors.

Consider your information, consider your perspective, if you want to learn more about the change you may be on the best path forward. If you find yourself internally resisting it, ask yourself, “why am I really bothered by the change”, this may lead you to obtain more information- and just maybe with the right information you too can embrace change as your body has done for you, successfully, for decades.