Summary: Change is happening at an escalated pace. The stress of constant change makes it the #1 health concern worldwide. Here’s what you need to know to keep from falling down the rabbit hole of anxiety and depression.
Dear Dr. Sylvia,
I read that the primary sources of social change include population growth, climate change, technology, and social conflict.
I want to add what I am experiencing at work: the psychology of those who are afraid of change and say, “It was better before,” along with “let’s not rock the boat” and also, “Prove to me the new way is going to work.”
Be careful when people say yes without really meaning it!
Our weekly team meetings end with discomfort, even when there is a verbal agreement. I often see those who comply with new budget restrictions look like they are sucking on a lemon. The “yes” is to appease rather than create a new way.
I need some ideas to engage my employees in becoming fearless warriors as we take on new, challenging opportunities to grow the business.
Thanks for your help,
Signed,
Positive Change Advocate
Change is complex: leaders need skills to help employees move from now to new.
Dear PCA,
I love how you signed your email.
If we could see that ALL change has a positive aspect, it would help diminish the mistrust and fear you mention.
Your question is top of mind for many of us right now.
One of my webinars is titled “Give Change a Chance.”
Why?
Change often tilts to the negative when the road ahead is murky.
Because while change, which is fluid and constant, can be seen as positive or negative, it mostly tilts to the negative and is fear-based.
Think of graduating high school.
Initially, there is excitement and delight about starting the next level of adulting.
However, there are so many “what if’s” that creep up unexpectedly. And many going from their teen years get trapped in old behaviors.
How about moving in with your lover? Exciting, and yet, the “what if” is always in the background.
Changing jobs is another “what if” area to be managed.
I have been told by many of my coaching clients that they still look at job opportunities on LinkedIn, just in case.
One big question whenever there is a significant change is, “What happens when the honeymoon is over.” And I would like to add, “It will be over at some point.”
Constant change makes stress more challenging to manage.
All change impacts mental health as well as your sense of well-being.
You can feel out of control in situations you didn’t expect If you have not developed the skills to handle the unexpected, you freeze or flee from the new challenges.
Then, there is the tendency to deny or avoid taking a risk.
Here is one exercise to help you harness the fear of change.
Find a 20-minute time alone. Answer the following question and write down as many emotional words as you can. These are, what I call, the critical “F-words.”
“F-words” are feeling words like delighted, scared, confused, and anger
Use a thesaurus to help. Please have at least 20 words (come on, it won’t take
but a few minutes.
Here is the question: what is one (only one) time between the ages of 4
and 14 when you moved to a new home, changed schools, or perhaps your parents
separated, someone became seriously ill, or another situation that was
fraught with change.
Now with the words you wrote down, create a concise story that addresses the issue you remembered.
One or two paragraphs are sufficient.
Once you see a pattern from your past, you can learn how to change it for the better — guaranteed.
Often, you will see a pattern here. Who was there to support you? Were you prone to pull the covers over your head and hide silently? Or did you yell out for attention? What did you learn about yourself/others from this specific situation?
This is one of several ways to begin to Observe and Understand early conditioning for how you respond to change and handle stress.
Then you can find the route to Transform what is outdated and keep you stuck in the past.
Please consider taking the stress mastery quiz at www.ceoptions.com/programs.
My coaches and I are here to help you personally and work with your team to embrace change positively.
Here’s to your success,
Sylvia Lafair
PS. Order my book, “Invisible Stress (It’s NOT What YOU Think), on Amazon and then contact me for a complimentary copy of the webinar. You can see a preview here: “Give Change a Chance.”
