Double Vision; Triple Change Lessons

Thursday morning before the 4th?of July weekend and without warning, I’m seeing double. ?There are now two of everything. Telehealth tells me go to the ER ASAP.??Doctors rule out the scary reasons for what is called binocular diplopia.??Not life threatening but unnerving.??As I make my way through the recovery process (spoiler alert: my eyesight is about 99% back to normal), I learned how I respond to sudden and unexplainable change.?

Get a trusted advisor pronto.??As I sat in the ER, my ophthalmologist of over 20 years called me.?In his matter-of-fact tone and my trust in him, I hear these situations are usually temporary and that the potential diagnoses being bantered about by others would not make his list of root causes. He referred me to a neuro-ophthalmologist who has the requisite expertise, provided her number and said call me if you can’t see her quickly.??I'll get you in. I start to breathe.

When going through a change, we want someone to not only assure us we will be okay but point us in the right direction.??Someone that we know will be there if we run into a snag. That person should be your first point of contact and on speed dial.

Know that an expert will soothe the difficult transition.??The advanced equipment in the neuro-ophthalmology office led to a targeted and confirmed diagnosis: 6th?nerve palsy.??The doctor??told me “It will get better.”??I asked: “How do you know?”??She responded: “It just does.”??A simple, short answer that calmed me.??No long explanations. No hesitations. Plenty of confidence based on seeing this 100s of times. Just “it just does.” Spoken without a hint of doubt.

Experts ease transitions during organizational change. While events have unique features, there is also a cadence that is familiar.??As external advisors, our value comes from the fact that we can say this will happen because we’ve seen it before. We can say with authority “It will get better; It just does.”??The right expert will guide you to the best outcomes.

Expect seemingly small inconveniences to matter; they're happening to you.???As I thought about what would happen if the diplopia was permanent, my conclusion was that I would not be able to drive.??My sense of independence includes getting in a car and driving myself, alone on the road. Where was I going to listen to my playlist and sing my heart out in my “out of key “voice? Needing someone to drive me felt awful.??There are far worse things that can happen to a person, but this was me, my autonomy, my life.

We often think that small changes can easily be absorbed.??And yet if my identity is wrapped up in a certain title or the ability to make certain decisions and these are taken away, our worlds shift; our identities become distorted much like my vision.?

When we are targets of change, remember: (1) find a trusted advisor, (2) seek the right guide who has been through it before, and (3) know that even the smallest shifts can unnerve you.?

And remember that during times of organizational change, one value outside advisors bring is that they're been through these events before. They can see around the corners to let you know what's coming and how to prepare. As an M&A consultant, I've witnessed the relief on my clients' faces when I've been able to help them plan for the rough spots and see the smooth terrain ahead. Things do get better; they just do.

And as my doctor predicted, my vision is improving.?Fewer spots of seeing double.??Now if only I could learn to sing.?