Got CHANGE? Penny for your thoughts..

‘Change, the only constant,’ was a well-accepted adage even in pre-COVID days, but as we live through these unprecedented VUCA times, there has been a change even in the nature of change. Some have called it a “punctuated equilibrium,” a term borrowed from one of the theories of evolution referring to periods when there is tremendous change after a long period of stability. What happens in this punctuated equilibrium is of course change, lots of change, and very fast.

One can see why the parallel was drawn to current times and why we are often struggling to make sense of it all. It’s not just the multiple crises unfolding, but the rapid transformation that is accompanying it, and the recognition that our systems and our mindsets are built for gradual, continuous improvement. Moreover, there is the realization that this change, in the very nature of change, requires a very different stance. There is no playbook, we are back to the workbooks! All of us are now students, in all humility, constantly learning new vocabulary, assimilating new information and finding new ways of working and living. Virtually all of humanity – all facing the same threats, confronting the same fears and "awaiting the same miracle of science."

Unabridged

We grieve for those severely impacted by the pandemic and its fallout. We find ourselves mourning the loss of normalcy and lack of control as it relates to almost all aspects of our lives. While we live through this seemingly ‘infinite present,’ we have missed milestones, many events and trips and meeting friends, family and colleagues. Despondent thoughts can be further compounded with the multiplicity of crises, such as the intractable virus of racism and the worsening economic outlook. And we worry. We worry, for ourselves, our loved ones, and the future. Everyone seems to have gone through some cycle of grief in the punctuated equilibrium that is 2020. Thoughts of denial, shock, numbness, anger, fear, panic, guilt, gratitude and hope…and then the intense desire to help and be productive, with mindfulness, with purpose.

When I look back at the last six months, I can’t help but think that my pre-COVID days in 2020 were perhaps foretelling of the future. My year started with an inspiring 20/20 vision, some key time management strategies and an amazing opportunity to practice my leadership muscle through a community service project. When the pandemic hit, it brought about a lot of change, virtually altering the definition of success in many ways.

But my experiences in early 2020 guided me to pivot, prioritize and be productive with focus and execution on helping in any way I could. The many fellow 3Mers who rallied in the fight against the pandemic were truly inspirational for all of us. I was fortunate to be able to work from home, and also continue teaching, coaching and mentoring activities virtually. In addition to project work I was able to maintain science advocacy efforts, which also transitioned to virtual mode: webinars, panels, presentations. I was also able to participate virtually in events with summer interns and STEM camps. It was exciting to launch 3M Science At Home to help teachers, parents and students with distance-learning. And when the intractable virus of racism was exposed, learning about the issues at hand, was key in committing to take steps to become an anti-racist and impact change.

Bridging strategy

The story of the Choluteca Bridge is doing the rounds again on social media. It’s the extraordinarily strong, stable, engineering marvel in Honduras, built in 1996. And when Hurricane Mitch ravaged the region everything was destroyed, except for the bridge. The flooding forced the river itself to change course literally rendering it a bridge to nowhere, with no river flowing under it. The lesson in this true story is very relevant because of the level of change we are seeing in the world. I had an opportunity to recently share this as a metaphor for change at a 3M Technical Forum event, hosted by our Technical Leadership chapter.

From a leadership perspective, the rapid change around us requires courage to view the challenges posed by the sea change as an opportunity. I shared my views and spoke about three distinct actions we can all take: First, is the opportunity to anticipate the ‘new normal’ given the acceleration of many trends and developing actionable insight to execute rapidly in the short-term. What may have seemed strategic decisions for the future have been accelerated and many require immediate action to stay relevant.

Second, this change also calls for honest soul-searching since the pandemic has revealed vulnerabilities, strengths and shortcomings that can in fact lead to strategic foresight by challenging ‘old truths.’ It warrants humility and acceptance as the proverbial river may have changed course in this period of rapid change. It is an opportunity to examine if we are adapting, what we are learning, and convey how we are adjusting our future plans as a result.

Finally, there is no doubt in my mind that science will vanquish the pandemic. This punctuated equilibrium, this brief ‘window of time’, behooves us to change things within our operational oversight that don’t work well for us and streamline and simplify processes that help us add value. We all need to keep a growth mindset and build grit, resilience and flexibility.

So, what’s next? More change. It’s coming. We need to bridge to the future. It is imperative for leaders to maintain neutrality, and transparency, in communications, balanced with pragmatic optimism, lest negativity leads to a sense of hopelessness.

'We all lead change.' Our thoughts and actions can inspire and empower us to do just that, navigate change with:

C ourage

H onesty and humility

A dapting: attitude, altitude

N eutrailty, not negativity

G rowth through grit

E xpect more CHANGE

How have you dealt with change in #2020? Look forward to hearing your thoughts.

(I might keep the penny though – I heard there is a shortage of …change!)