116: Managing Change For Yourself and Your Team

Dealing with change is a process for everyone, but why is it that sometimes we adapt quickly while other times it's almost painful and yet other times, despite our best intentions, the change doesn’t stick? Understanding various elements of how change happens and factors that influence change can make the process easier for yourself and others.    In this episode, I walk through seven factors that can help you streamline the change journey and increase the chances of a smooth change process.   The full episode guide includes an overview of the seven areas to consider to help you manage changers more smoothly. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community or purchase the full guide at www.themodernmanager.com/shop.     Get the free mini-guide which contains an overview of the emotional change curve at www.themodernmanager.com/miniguides.   Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox.    Read the related blog article: 7 Ways to Help Yourself and Others Manage Change   Key Takeaways: Think of change as a journey, not an event. We experience change as a process of moving from point A to point B, from leaving what was and arriving at what will be. The change journey is complete when you’ve arrived at your new normal. We experience change more positively when we are in control and have chosen to change.  Invite people into the decision early or give people a choice to opt in to a change. In order for us to gain something new, we must let go of something else. This experience of loss can be more dramatic than adapting to the new. Consider who is gaining what and who is losing what for each change. Avoid blanket statements about change being good or bad in the same way for everyone involved. The change journey is also an emotional journey. By understanding the emotional rollercoaster, we can put our experience in context.  When we lack the skills, knowledge, environment or motivation for change, the journey is almost impossible. Changes often have implications beyond what is initially perceived. Some changes seem small but are quite big while other changes appear big but are actually small.  Dealing with change is easier when we are part of a group. Whenever possi