Making Change in the Workplace as Yummy and Delectable as Ice Cream!

by Sarah McVanel, Chief Recognition Officer,?Greatness Magnified

If change were an ice cream flavour, what might it be?

• Transcendent Tiramisu?
• Transformational Chai Tea
• Metamorphic Matcha Madness
• Shifted Salted Caramel Swirl
• Chameleon Cheesecake Delight
• Progression Pomegranate Sorbet, or even…
• Paradigm-Shifting Pistachio Cardamom

These might be fun flavours in theory. Can we all agree though, they would probably be stuck in the back, covered in ice, freezer burnt and marked on clearance?

Even those, a few years ago, who would have proclaimed being “very change resilient” likely have taken down their “change fill wanted” sign.

We get it. We’re in the same boat! Which is why we needed a scoop of?Mark Black .

Mark, is a resiliency expert, who speaks for thousands of folks a year and he’s heard over and over again (like we have), there is still a low-level chaotic feeling of the combination of work arrangements, shifting expectations, shortages, and the speed of advancements.

Getting “WHY” Focused

Mark shares that whether someone is completely change tapped out, or simply navigating the day-to-day juggle, we can all lose sight of our “why” sometimes. You know. The reason you get up every day and go to work, motivated and engaged. The thing that sparked your interest and pulled you in initially may be gone (or buried below the stack of never-ending to-do’s, crises, and changes). The one thing that makes a seemingly ordinary day feel extraordinary.

Take heart. As Rumi said:

“What comes, will go. What is found, will be lost again. But what you are is beyond coming and going and beyond description.”

You don’t have to “know” what your “why” is. You don’t need to clutch onto it like a life preserver. However, the journey toward reigniting your “why” might just be the ticket to a greater feeling of control and increased resilience.

Said another way: if you loved it at one point in time – professionally and personally – the love is likely still there. It just may take some work to uncover it. The good news is, the journey in discovering it is as (if not more) rewarding as finding it again.

“Why” Before “How”

Mark reminds us that we can easily get mired in the “how” (which is required in a crisis but unhealthy if we operate in go-go-go do-do-do mode all the time). That’s the power of being “why” centric. When we can understand the “why” in what we do, the “how” (the workload, the hours, the next project) becomes more manageable, and decisions about what gets priority becomes easier too.

We were so inspired by Mark’s invitation to explore our “why”, we decided to put our solution-focused hat on and uncover?a big juicy list?that you (and those you work and live with) could explore – individually or collectively – to surround yourself in the “why”:

1. What inspired you originally?
2. How has your passion evolved?
3. What brings you joy and fulfillment?
4. When do you feel most motivated?
5. What moments reaffirm your purpose?
6. How does what you do most align with your values?
7. What impact do you hope to make?
8. How do you most resourcefully overcome doubts or obstacles?
9. Have you considered alternative paths?
10. What is the deeper meaning behind your goal?

If you find yourself in a slump, unmotivated, or unsure, revisit these questions anytime. Resiliency-fueled curiosity may be the very ticket to reigniting your spark and passion; rather than have to “get through” challenging times, the feeling of angst might be your inner Yoga guiding you back to what matters most to you.

Growth Over Static

You will probably be able to see, simply by reading the list of solution-focused questions above, anyone’s “why” is not fixed. It’s far from static. In fact, it is enriched over time. By its very nature, your “why” will grow, change and evolve over time. Every experience that is at the extreme ends of striving and struggle will get you clearer on the “why”.

That’s the zany thing about the “why” that matters most to you. If it?weren’t?for the change, discomfort and being outside of our comfort zone, we might not notice a disconnect to our “why” and a call back to it.

Resiliency may not be something we need to “find” or “have” then. Resiliency might be a fluid process.?We love Mark’s process:

1. Acknowledge
2. Agency
3. Acceptance
4. Adaptation
5. Aspiration
6. Action
7. Assessment

Learn more about each of these elements in Mark’s delicious new book?The Resilience Roadmap .

We had Mark here last week to talk about managing change. If you missed it we’ve added the link below along with a couple of other past blogs that you will find helpful:

• From “Oh No” to “Now What?”: Managing Change Through the Resilience Roadmap with Mark Black
• Younger Workers and Conscious Quitting: The Secret Attraction and Retention Formula of Today
• It’s Not All About the Money…a Simple Thank You Goes a Long Way!