5 minute read
Feature Three
The Psychology of Change:
TWO IDEAS FOR POST-PANDEMIC PEOPLE PREPARATION
By Dr. Arlene Egan
Following the past 18 months, I am making a very conscious effort to change some of my less useful and unhealthy habits into something much more beneficial for me. I understand how small but consistent effort and change can lead to greater improvements in my work-life balance, which holds value and importance for me. Of course, understanding this logic is only one part of the change puzzle.
Changing my mindset and behaviour is more complex. Recently, following a brisk 30-minute walk in the nearby woods, I sat down with my coffee and logged into Zoom to participate in a Roffey Park event on the psychology of change.
Sitting at my kitchen table, communicating via an online platform, spending time-sharing ideas with people from all over the world, certainly is a change from the way I was working pre pandemic. I would consider these positive changes to my work practice. However, others may not agree. We understand through research and experience that there are key reasons why people react negatively to change. These include, a sense of fear or loss, reduction of control, a feeling of threat or imposition, a change in expertise or status, lack of confidence and a lack of understanding of how the change will affect them. While those of us with people or change management responsibilities may recognise this list, we often get swept up into the change fog while neglecting to focus on what will remain unchanged. Often, despite change some things remain. Perhaps it is function, or process or teams. Psychologically, although we can protect ourselves and mitigate discomfort by focusing on loss, through practice, effort, and effective communication we can also help to open people up to the idea that all change has both opportunity and risk and through change some thing’s will remain. If being more mindful of the psychological impact of change on people post pandemic is of interest to you, these two ideas may help:
Communication is key
The very nature of change quite often leaves us in a predicament that we may not have all the answers in relation to key aspects of change. Yet, as change agents or leaders in an organisation it is important to understand two fundamental psychological concepts. First, in times of change people look up. How leaders ‘walk the walk’ comes under intense scrutiny. How their actions match their words sends clear messages to all in the organisation about key aspects of the change. Second, gaps need to be closed. These could be gaps in understanding, which if not addressed can be closed with misassumption and inaccurate storytelling. Regardless of whether change is sudden, gradual or planned, having a comprehensive and cohesive communication plan will help ease the transition.
It can also keep people informed of new information, mistakes or changes in direction. Honesty in communication goes a long way. Trust in the change process can erode quickly if leaders or change agents are found to be insincere. In creating space for those affected by change to ask questions, even the tough questions or those you might not have an answer to right now, helps create momentum, build relationships and even identify change advocates that can offer their support.
Engage staff across the organisation
Change, like leadership is not the preserve of the senior leadership team. Staff (especially those in an effective team) often have greater levels of resilience than expected and great ideas on how to help manage or embed change. As I mentioned in the beginning, change is experiential. What might illicit fear, dread, or fatigue in one can excite, motivate, or energise someone else. Champions of change can exist at all levels of our organisations, how are we including them? How are we responding to those we perceive as strongly resistant? Both can be assets in times of change. Having change champions or advocates from across the organisation can ultimately provide leaders, managers and those with a HR or transformation agenda access to a wider range of people. Knowing who is best placed to help demystify or clarify ideas around change is important, as it may not be someone in a leadership position. As trust and engagement play important roles in enabling change, it is important to think about the value of having champions communicating and engaging with others across the organisation and providing feedback on any ideas that they pick up along the way. Similarly, there is learning to be gained from including people resistant to the change. While many of us shy away from such situations and hope that the tide of change will bring those resistant along with it, eventually, it is the case that many fears, concerns and alternatives can be understood better and responded to by engaging with those less in favour of change. When the celebration is over, we typically ask “what’s next?” Having milestones identified, marked and publicised, psychologically this helps people to understand where they are in the change process and how their organisation is responding. By breaking parts of a change process into chunks, people are better able to cope psychologically and it becomes easier to identify where extra support or education may be required to equip people for the next phase of change. As many organisations plan for work practice post pandemic, more change will be inevitable. Keeping people informed, allowing them space to talk, ask questions, and be listened to is one of the basic foundations, which if done correctly can help create momentum in times of change. One final thought is the question “are we there yet?” which is synonymous with long journeys. When we think about the psychology of change, this is one of those questions that people ask too. Be sure to close change off for people, or at least phases of change. This can help the journey feel less like a boring, tiresome trek and more like a purposeful adventure.
