Underestimating Transitions
Cias Ferreira
I serve leaders in creating customer-focused companies that increases employee engagement and customer inspiration. I serve professionals in their path to mastery to excel in their own unique style of artistry.
Are we not underestimating the current transition that is accompanying the pandemic? Maybe we are also over promising on timelines and finally being out of this "mess"?
Transitions are a slippery process. Why? Because you work more with intangibles than tangibles. You can map out a change process, but a transition process is fluid and often needs flexibility and continuous adjustments as you discover and learn on the go. William Bridges rightfully defines Transitions as change + emotions. And it is the emotional part that few change management processes ever consider. It is the emotional part that results in 80% of mergers not working. Seldom is it considered that people emotionally connect to their unique culture. It is not easy to take people out of that and just create a new combined culture.
In the last 7 years I have seen many people leave our beautiful country. No hard feelings from my side. It is fascinating though to see the internal process that happens in their these immigration transitions.
It all starts with what is coined as the honeymoon phase. They visit all the museums and all of a sudden become art experts. They do things they would never have done in their own country. Then they go on picnics and explore their new world. This is a beautiful phase and should be enjoyed to the full. But as all married couples know, love can grow, but honeymoons don't last forever.
Second is the reality check. We can't just explore all the new sights, we have to settle into a rhythm and build a new life. This middle phase is often the most difficult phase. Reality sets in and we have to move forward and start living in this new place. It is in this phase, we decide to go back or move forward. You realize the grocery shop does not have those nice snacks you used to buy on Saturday evenings. As a family you now have to create new little rituals that was automatic in the old land.
The last phase is the most rewarding though. You have discovered, you have settled and now you can breath. You feel at home and you can live with ease knowing your way around things.
If I think of the pandemic, I believe we want to be at the breathing space right now. And many of us are there in our minds. The reality is that we are not there. In my consulting on transitions I often have to be the bearer of bad news when I mention that most transitions take 3 years. The first reaction is always, 3 years????? Yes 3 years. And after working with many individuals and companies I can conclude with confidence, Yes, at least 3 years!!! The more complex the systems around the transition the longer it can take.
I remembered Roelf Meyer was saying 2 years ago that it will take at least 5 years for South Africa to experience a turnaround. It is very true. Unfortunately and fortunately Covid-19 has accelerated some if it with the unveiling of corrupt individuals who cared more about their own pockets than the livelihood of the citizens of this country. I don't know when we would have transitioned into a breathable living with Covid-19 but I do know it's not tomorrow or next week, except by some miracle.
As we keep moving forward in the turmoil of the not yet new world and not stuck in the old anymore, lets stay strong in our character and persevere. This is no longer a physical or mental challenge. The pandemic is forcing us into a character challenge. Will we perseverance to the until we can breath? If you are tired, take a breather or break, but don't give up. Together as a human race we can transition into what the unknown future will hold. In fact, we will probably build that future and then after being settled into it, it will not feel so unfamiliar or weird anymore.
A few final ideas to get you thinking and take action:
Contact me if you need any assistance in transitioning well and intentionally.
Thought provoking questions Cias Ferreira. Change is a given, we either create the change or have to adapt to it. Is the luxury of a 3 year timeline to transition still possible without being left behind? Speedy transitions are needed. The speed is influenced by experience, how quickly each individual can move through the change management process with emotional intelligence and a high trust (speed increase) environment is helpful.
Führung H2H ?? Ich helfe Menschen, besser mit ihren Organisationen klarzukommen und ihre Organisationen menschlicher zu machen.
3 年Cias Ferreira Agree! Three years may even be too short for substantial change in a larger unit. Yet, anyway, you are spot on, it usually takes so much longer that we think or hope at first. As for the changes initiated by the pandemic such as the acceleration of digitalization, decentralizing and democratizing leadership: Shouldn't we rather think of at least a decade of change? If we haven't yet found something that we love, we are good at and that people need it is about time to find it. Only those who have found and persue their #ikigai will make it through the rafting waters ahead of us.