What watching the sky teaches me about Change Management

A couple of years ago, after a deep and heavy conversation with one of my closest friends, we started the habit of sending each other photos of the sky. It is very rare now that a day goes by without the two of us exchanging sky photos. Oftentimes without any other words. It is our reminder that as long as we can take a few seconds and look up, we are alive and, therefore, we have everything we need to be happy. Ironically, watching the sky became one of my most grounding rituals.

The habit spread around us, some people knowing the story behind it, some not. Regardless, everyone gets hooked on watching the sky and sending photos. Fun fact: I had to buy extra space “in the cloud” for my photos, consisting mainly of the sky…

While out for a walk last week, I looked up and enjoyed one of the clearest, bluest skies ever. And one question popped up in my head: what is watching the sky teaching me about Change Management? I had to give it a try…

Blink, and it’s changed. There is constant change up there. On some days more visible than on others. Just like in life, and in the life of any organization. When you do Change Management work, you are in the middle of it, hopefully you even get the feeling of driving it every now and again. For most of the people inside the organization, change must be like watching the sky – they need to look up from their daily tasks, and while they blink, everything has changed again. And again. When the wind moves the clouds around, we do not “see” the wind. We can only feel it, and see its effect. People must have the same experience while going through change. Most of them do not “see” it, but they feel it and see its effect. It is important for anyone doing Change Management to give out “weather forecasts and alerts”, so people understand what weather they are most likely to experience. “The leader is bringing the weather”, is explained in “Scaling Leadership. Building Organizational Capability and Capacity to Create Outcomes that Matter Most” by authors Robert J. Anderson and William A. Adams. When a leader walks into the workplace, research proves one of two things will happen: either, the mood and performance of the team and individuals will be boosted, or, the mood and performance of the team and individuals will be lowered. The organizational culture is the climate. Which one is yours? Tropical? Dry? Polar? Temperate? Is it prone to sudden, drastic weather changes? Does it feel like wonderful Malta, with an average of 300 sunny days a year, and only 7 snowfalls registered since 1858?

There is no single truth, but an infinite number of true perspectives. We look up at the same sky, yet we see different things. In some parts of the world, the sky is cloudier or clearer. Or maybe there is fog. Under my sky it was winter, while under the same sky people enjoyed summer Down Under. This is a key lesson for Change Management: meet people “under their sky” to be able to see what they see. And how it all changes when you are in a plane! The first time I flew, it was a cloudy day, and when we were above the clouds, to me it looked like we were flying over a giant bowl of whipped cream. I can’t wait to get my fix of “sky dessert” soon… I will savor it while remembering this amazing quote from Konrad Adenaeur, the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany: “We all live under the same sky, but we don't all have the same horizon.”

Direction is a choice. Some ancient Buddha wisdom is needed at this point: “In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true.” When the “organizational True North” is set in a “high-level strategy document”, make sure everybody can adjust their compasses accordingly. Make that choice, and communicate it, set direction and give out maps. And also keep in mind that people are prone to binary thinking. It is not so much about good or bad, as it is about “being aligned”. “Develop a mind that is vast like space, where experiences both pleasant and unpleasant can appear and disappear without conflict, struggle or harm. Rest in a mind like vast sky”, adds Buddha.

Change of focus clears the vision. In our busy lives, we rarely look up to observe the wonders in the sky above. According to research, this is mainly due to two reasons: we don’t have access to clear night skies, and we are too busy looking into our computers and smart devices. Guilty as charged! Though we don’t always think about it, our eyes need breaks from all that staring, scrolling, reading, and just plain seeing they do. And not just while we’re asleep. Anything that asks a lot of our eyes can lead to eye strain. Think: long stretches of reading, driving, or bright lights. These days, the most likely culprit is screen time—eyeballs glued to mobile phones, tablets, laptops. Eyes that need to twinkle with infinite curiosity and interest during back-to-back Zoom calls… In fact, the American Optometric Association created a special category for this flavor of visual exhaustion: digital eye strain (DES). The number one quick fix for eye strain is to reset your vision. One lesser-known way to reboot our eyes is to look off into the distance. Resetting our eyes from close-up to far off gives them a rest and helps reset our focus. Experts recommend the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes spent at a computer or device, turn your eyes toward something 20 feet away, for 20 seconds. Those mini breaks are great, but your eyes need more time off. A few times a day, get up, take a walk, stretch, and do some deep breathing exercises. Why not look at the sky while you’re at it? Like every muscle, our eyes need regular rest. You are not wasting time. You take time to clear your vision.

Look up at the sky as often as you can. And enjoy what you see, no matter what that might be in that moment. Remember: you blink, and it’s changed. Just breathe, enjoy the wind on your face, or the sun, and know you are the best part of something bigger. Take the wise, comforting advice of A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, the Indian aerospace scientist and politician who served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007: “Look at the sky. We are not alone. The whole universe is friendly to us and conspires only to give the best to those who dream and work.”

Work. Take a break. Watch the sky. Dream. Be happy!