Mergers. New office space. Remote working. Reorganizations. Divestitures. Culture shifts. Process Improvements. The list goes on…
Change is all around us and seems to be happening at a constant rate. In the past, we may have had a bit of breathing room between changes; however, now you and your organization are experiencing many simultaneously.
While change is a fundamental necessity for growth and transformation, we need to understand, implement, and manage change more quickly and effectively. Our employees are counting on us to do this. Companies are becoming more aware of the importance of change leadership to assist people in understanding and adopting changes, ultimately helping them become more change agile.
As TRG Agency partners with organizations to develop their change competencies, it is important to keep in mind core principles and understand how to address them effectively.
In the first part of this five-part series, let’s talk about how organizational change affects people.
People are not ‘wired’ for change
The human body has many ‘alarms’ for us to know when something is not right. We run a fever when sick or sneeze when allergens invade our bodies. There are also physical reactions to emotional issues – we cry when sad or adrenaline kicks in when we are in a life-threatening situation. Research suggests that resistance to change is not just a personal behavior; it really can cause discomfort. The change can be interpreted as something ‘wrong,’ a failing or threat that stops you from behaving as usual.
The human brain likes routine – to set up patterns for us to run through as we live our lives. When we are in this auto-pilot mode, the brain can relax. However, when a change occurs, the brain gets out of auto-pilot mode and reacts. At times, this takes energy and, at times, depending on how different the new behavior is to a person, and it can be exhausting.
The key to working through a new behavior or process is to find some focus as quickly as possible. This is shown to change the brain chemistry and relieve some of the discomforts. A person can create focus by understanding what they can control or influence. Look at all the elements of the change or changes and find something to devote their attention and energy to.
So, in a way, a person is in charge of how their brain reacts to the change. It involves personal decisions. The actions people take have a direct impact on their outcomes and experiences. Finding what can be controlled and influenced can be vital to being more proactive and allow people to take charge of the change.
More to come
This is the first part of our five-part series on change. Stay tuned for the next installment, Principles of change: The workplace on our blog.
Of course, if you’re going through change or transformation, TRG Agency can help. Reach out to us to see how we can help you and your organization.
