Overview of the Change Management Process

"Confusion is a word we have invented for an order which is not understood." – Henry Miller.

If your employees are confused during change, it may be that they do not understand the underlying order which the organization has (hopefully) planned into the change initiative.  In this module, we give your employees an overview so they know what to expect during a change initiative, are not surprised by your plans and communications and adapt more quickly and effectively. If you follow the change management process advocated in our Manager's Toolkit (See Essentials of Change Management) then this is an important companion piece for your employees.

The Emotional Rollercoaster of Change

 “Genuine beginnings begin within us, even when they are brought to our attention by external opportunities.” - William Bridges

Going through an organizational change can be a stressful experience, one we call the emotional rollercoaster of change. This module is based on William Bridges’ well-known “transitions” model. As he said: “All transitions are composed of an ending, a neutral zone and a new beginning” and we cannot get to our new beginning without riding that rollercoaster. Learn what emotional reactions to expect. Watch amusing videoclips from the movie “Father of the Bride” as the title character struggles with his emotional reactions to his daughter’s wedding. Think of yourself in your own life’s movie. Reflect on your emotional reactions and what you can do to help yourself adjust smoothly to change.

Developing Change Resilience

Assess your Change Resilience and Learn how to Cope with the Stress of Change

"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." - Charles Darwin.

This module gives you the tools to build your personal resilience.  In this module, you will assess your level of resilience using our “Resilience Questionnaire” based on well-supported research into what actually helps people thrive during change. Resilience also involves controlling both your own emotions and as much of your work environment as possible (and people usually underestimate how much they can control both).  The module concludes by offering sound and proven advice for coping effectively with stress during change, thereby increasing your resilience.

Resistance to Change is Normal, but it May not be Wise

"If you want your life to be more rewarding, you have to change the way you think." - Oprah Winfrey.

The second major part of change resilience is developing the skills to examine your assumptions and challenge potential faulty thinking that may be holding you back.  Follow the case study of an employee struggling to adapt to technological change, and see how her faulty assumptions and negative thinking lead to undesirable outcomes for both her and her organization. Coach her in asking the important questions that will help her question her assumptions, reframe her thinking about the change and reassess whether she should support it. Finally discover a set of powerful questions you can ask yourself to become more resilient.