What if we treated change like an exchange?

Exchange: origin Old French - eschange, eschangier based on the verb changer. An act of giving one thing and receiving another (especially of the same type or value) in return.

Influenced by Latin ex - out of, from, utterly. A prefix that means when something goes out of something else, in order for something to come in.

In order to receive something in your hands means you must first let go of what you are holding on to in your hand. This makes me think about a recent webinar I was invited to speak on for the IBM Change Exchange this past week.

A new mantra from the CHRO at IBM is: Eliminate, Simplify & Automate. And when I think about the words on their own, distinctly, a vivid dance begins in my mind. Each of these reminds me of the power of exchange in its original meaning, it's purest form.

As a Director of Change at Microsoft, I am entrusted with guiding others in change while we shift to do more with less and meet our customers where they are at in their journeys to transforming themselves in a digital-first world.

I think of every change effort I am honored to direct not too dissimilar from episodes of a series like The Mandalorian. Those of you who watch the series know that it is unique in the fact that each episode can have a different Director. This is because the lead Director, Jon Favreau, invites the bright, young minds and hearts of fellow creatives to share the stories of transformation uniquely and succinctly.

And what's beautiful about each episode is you can feel and appreciate the exchange of ideas, concepts, dialogues and developments that flowed between the filmmakers, directors, producers, cast and even viewers. Check out the Making of the Mandalorian for a Behind-The-Scenes front row seat to this symphony of exchange.

It is a testament to the things we can co-create when we let go of the way we usually do things to be extended into new growth and potential. IBM recently created a new purpose and impact statement, an exemplary moment of meeting change as an exchange.

IBM's purpose is to be the catalyst that makes the world better.

This reminds me of the unvoiced purpose a certain quiet rebel and lone fighter chases as he makes his way through the outer reaches of the galaxy.

The title of the session I led, that kicked off the IBM Change Exchange, was: Stories of Transition: Finding Pathways to Progress in Uncertain Times. And in accepting the invite as an IBM alumnus to speak with IBMers around the world, I hearkened back to one of my first lessons in leading change:

"Meet your audience where they are at."

We are all trying to progress in uncertain times and that can sometimes feel like we are making our way through the outer reaches of the galaxy. Where it's hard to slow our heartbeat, even challenging to catch our breath. And just like the Mandalorian, who discovered in his journey that he needed the calming presence (of a co-pilot) in Grogu, to teach him to find new pathways to progress, so too do the leaders who drive change across their enterprises.

Remember, leading change can be lonely.

It can feel like you are solo piloting to future settlements that no one can quite envision. Not yet anyway. And on such long journeys in change, we as architects, pilots, pioneers, lone fighters and quiet rebels leading change could all use the unvoiced yet pronounced presence of a Baby Yoda to get still, to bring to ourselves the thing we most desire...calm.

And the permission to do more with less. And know this, when you're solo piloting change in uncharted places, you were granted permission, the minute you took on that responsibility to lead others to the outer reaches of potential and personal growth.

And as I shared in the Change Exchange, anyone in this world who is leading change needs to be reminded, needs to be witnessed by hearing these words:

"You have permission."

This is our work together. That's the beauty of an ex-change. It inherently involves both looking and looking back, in a reciprocal way. And it's from that place that we can re-meet ourselves and gracefully lead others in change.

That's the ingredient to empowerment and achievement. That's the more.