Change is inevitable, growth is an option... It is all about learning

Spring 2023 is here and with it, the hope that it may be the first spring of post-pandemic "normality". We also hope that the experience during the pandemic served as a process of reflection on the status quo of our lives in all its dimensions. We went through many changes, some abrupt others slow, and ways of living life under a situation beyond our control that brought consequences of all kinds, many of which will not be overcome immediately, but in time. It is within this context of great transitions that I decided to restart writing activities by sharing my thoughts about what change means to me. I will continue to post on other topics that may be of interest to those that cross my path or social media.

A long while ago, I had the opportunity to give a seminar on change management in organizations, to two very different groups of employees of two different companies, which began with the title sentence of this post. Its purpose was to generate a reflection among the attendees on the inevitable nature of change and the autonomy we have to decide on how to face or manage change. We are creatures in constant development due to natural changes as a result of maturity, experience, and learning, three concepts that overlap. The moment we understand that changes or transitions are natural events in life, it is likely that we see them as opportunities for growth, as turning points. However, going through abrupt changes as happened to all during mandatory confinement is very challenging. During the lockdown, I attended a webinar on how to lead transitions in times of abrupt change, in which the speaker rightly stated that “transition is the process of adapting to change and people like change”. But accepting and responding to change means leaving the familiar to face the unknown. The difficulty lies in the uncertainty that change generates, and that is where resistance to change begins. The uncertainty of the unknown raises the fear of failure, or paradoxically, of success. However, it can be a time of discovery, excitement, and achievement. Even our brains have to adapt to change because it is also used to responding in certain ways due to our learning, growth, and experiences. But we can also train our brains to adapt and be open to change. That is where learning begins, and we all know by now that long-life learning is good for our brains.

I believe organizations that accept change as a constant keep the learning factor in mind. They are what we know as learning organizations. The individual and organizational capacity to stay in a constant state of learning gives an indisputable competitive advantage. Any dynamic organization is open to change and the transitions that its employees, clients, and stakeholders may go through, and know how to find points of consensus or common interest so that everyone can benefit from the positive dynamics of change. Regardless of the visible results of change, it is natural for people to feel that they are missing something. You have to mourn the past. Old beliefs do not cease to exist immediately after a change is announced. As new beliefs strengthen and begin to exist alongside old ones they allow us to see the new situation in a different light. The feeling of loss begins to fade. This happens in both our personal and professional lives.

The pandemic generated a restructuring of our lives and the workplace as we knew them, namely, remote, hybrid, reorganization of tasks, etc., which led to collaboration difficulties, interpersonal conflicts, cohesion issues, anxiety, and stress-related issues. Organization leaders saw a reduction in the levels of engagement, and productivity, among others. The situation in which the organizations and their leaders were forced due to the pandemic gave greater relevance to the difficulties generated by change. The challenges that naturally arose in the process took on another dimension, where the leaders were active participants in that change, in the sense that it was brought about by an uncontrollable external force. Today we could say that at some level we are still transitioning.

There is also a type of change that is not abrupt and it seems that we are in a permanent transition. It impacts society at large and it requires each one of us the responsibility to reflect and generate conversations about the consequences. For example, the changes generated by climate change or Artificial Intelligence. They require us to think about what is best for the common good, what needs to be learned, and what is the cost to humankind. We have witnessed how technology and the pandemic have accelerated the rate of learning and adaptation, which have taken us to a new way of relating to work. The skills that are required of workers today and the nature of work have changed, maybe in more profound ways than we care to admit. I find it incredibly interesting that as technology keeps advancing at an incredible pace, we also see an increase in employment requirements for the so-badly called "soft skills".

My life, like that of many, has been characterized by changes, and I have always considered myself a change agent. I believe the diversity of my training and experiences gives me an advantage in the face of change. I have always received and accepted it with an open mind. It is a testament to my ability to adapt and the belief that every opportunity hides an immeasurable treasure of life. Probably the one stable trait in my path of change is my passion for understanding human behavior. I recently embarked on another change that, although it is a return to familiar and safe places, means a turning point in my life. I anticipate with great enthusiasm what destiny and life have in store for me, and I am certain that I am starting a new path of new learning.