Bridge Over Troubled Water

After I retired from corporate work in 1999, I tried my hand at consulting. I operated under the company Bridge Consulting Group, LLC, with a company tagline of Making Your Vision of Change a Reality. My practice focused on mergers and acquisitions, assessing company culture, large scale organizational change and executive coaching.

All these areas involve personal and organizational change, often in a significant way. The Bridge in the company name reflected the reality that all change requires you step from a current location and transition to a new, stable place. For those shifts, metaphorically, a bridge can help individuals cross over the turbulence and disruption that comes with change.

I found one of the biggest obstacles to change was letting go of the comfortable known and venturing into the unknown. Those who need help often refuse to seek it. Companies stringently guard the status quo. Businesses follow outdated processes. Change is frequently met with fear and resistance. I have often been resistant to change myself.

I became keenly aware of this phenomenon while preparing my MBA thesis. I was evaluating the inventory system for the Kaiser Permanente Hospital system in California. My goal was to use mathematical models to determine optimum inventory levels. This would potentially save the hospitals significant carrying costs.

Kaiser had computerized inventory records. Though I had reams of printouts, I decided to drop in on one of the distribution warehouses. I visited with the warehousemen and noticed a large box containing 3x5 cards. When asked about this, the warehouseman shrugged his shoulders and explained, “I don’t trust the computer records, so I still use the manual system.”

I also determined that each hospital had built up its own stash of inventory, unwilling to trust the warehouse to have the supplies they needed, though this apparently hadn’t been an issue in years with the manual system. I suspect the hospitals didn’t trust the new computerized system either. What if the warehouse didn’t have what they needed in stock, because the computerized system was not accurate? It’s difficult letting go of past practices.

During my life, as I’m sure in everyone’s, there have been people who acted as bridges to help soften my resistance and reassure me in the face of fear. For most, it starts very early with parents. Maturing into an adult requires significant change and assistance. The simple task of learning to ride a bike, for example, requires a teacher, a person who will encourage you, steady the bike until you can launch off on your own, and rebuild your confidence when you fall. They are the bridge for achieving competence on a bicycle.

Human bridges are the most effective and precious. Company leaders who fail in their change initiatives do not help people let go and support them during the transition to the new destination.

I welcome situations where I can act as a bridge. Sometimes it’s my personal time; in other instances it’s by giving money to the bridge builders. Our favorite charity is supporting the fight against cancer. The devoted staff at M.D. Anderson has dedicated their lives to curing cancer. They are the angels supplying the bridge that enables people to mentally cope and bring them back to a state of health.

I usually take the easy route – just give the bridge builders a donation. The best gift is to give of myself because so many people need a human touch as they maneuver through troubled waters.

Even the smallest gestures can help people navigate a difficult day or situation. A smile, a kind comment, a note of gratitude or a word of confidence may be all it takes to brighten a life.

The song by Simon and Garfunkel, Bridge Over Troubled Water, is a beautiful illustration of the idea.

When you're down and out

When you're on the street

When evening falls so hard

I will comfort you

I'll take your part

Oh when darkness comes

And pain is all, is all around

Just like a bridge over troubled water

I will lay me down

Just like a bridge over troubled water

I will lay me down

Be a bridge, whenever and wherever you can!