There has so much been said about change, so much written, discussed and commented upon. One thing’s for certain, Change impacts different people in different ways.
Change doesn’t seem to have a uniform size or impact. A small Change can impact someone in a big way, a big Change can have no impact on an individual at all. Strange really.
As well as size not being predictable on impact, the very notion of Change can have a greater impact than if there’s actually Change in motion. So if it happens or not, people are impacted differently.
So Change can have a huge impact if it’s small or just an idea and a small impact if its huge and implicated. This whole Change thing has us tied in knots doesn’t it.
Over the years working with different organisations across sectors and levels within, what has stood out to me is the constant impact Change has, whether it’s happening, going to happen, might happen or should happen.
My two biggest learns from these times have been firstly, that any Change wrapped in secrecy is a recipe for disaster. If you think that keeping it quiet lessens the impact or softens the blow, you are sadly mistaken. People want to know, whether they agree with it or not. When it comes to Change, knowledge enables people to chose.
Secondly Change comes in excruciating increments to those who want it. It takes time so don’t rush it. On this occasion speed is not as important as direction, people want to know where they are going not when they’ll get there.
Change is inevitable everyone, get used to it. It’s something that provides opportunity, innovation and clarity. So here’s my advice;
Always, always, always tell people what’s happening, no matter who they are and how big or small the Change.
Let the Change dictate the pace. Realise that change manages us not the other way around, we simply guide people through it.
If you think you can control Change, you’ll have more chance of making time run backwards.
