I was running an online full day workshop recently. The fact that it was online was a change.
Early on in the workshop we had a group discussions around what COVID-19 had taught us about change.
One thing that came out loud and clear was that when we need to change we can and do.
Several delegates spoke about technologies being adopted in days. The very same technologies that they have been trying to implement for a while.
Making change personally or within an organisation is tough.
I read that 80% of people fear change when it is first talked about.
So maybe it’s not such a surprise that change is tough.
Equally we have to accept that in the short to medium term things are going to be very different.
- Some things that were just the norm previously may no longer be relevant.
- Different and often better solutions will be found.
- The job market will change.
- Careers will be impacted.
- Tough decisions will have to be made.
Funny thing is I’ve noticed that we all hold on to things out of habit.
When we are faced with change we have choices:
- We can focus on the unfairness.
- We can decide to go with the flow.
- We can decide to resist it.
Each of our choices will require effort and discipline.
Yes change might be a bit frightening. Equally for every challenge there are also an opportunity.
So faced with choices about change, here are 6 questions to ask yourself:
- What am I really worried about?
- Can I address those worries?
- What can I control?
- What can I influence?
- What do I want going forward?
- What will help me take the first step?
And finally remember this.
Every time you take a decision and action, you get a result or feedback.
If the result isn’t what you wanted, you can always adapt or adjust what you did.
Change is part and parcel of life. We can’t stop it but we can choose how we respond to it.