Change and Fear

This week I met with a client to discuss a change in her team- adding an App into the routine. Change can be scary and yet, it is often needed.

When is it a good time to get over the fear of change, and when is it not a good idea? Continue? Move on?

Let's deal with fear first:
Fear can be good, as a motivator (ie: the company will have to cut back if we don't sell x amount of goods) but it can also stop change. When fear is a healthy motivation to get things done asap, that's great. When fear stops you because you feel it threatens you (eg: "There will be violence"), it's not good – and maybe not at all true.

The point is, what is the fear doing to you? If it's holding you back, there is a problem; if it's spurring you on, then great. Coaches and counselors can help you with your emotions.

But now let's move on to the choice: to change or not to change.

Here are some suggestions to consider when you continue in the path you are going:

 

  • Your idea is great, your strategy is practically perfect, if you say so yourself (or you can perfect it), you are doing the right things with the right motives
  • You - and your team - have the right competencies (or are willing to learn them, fast)
  • You are focusing on the most important things, the ONE BIG thing really
  • (and remember that 80/20 principle, -spend time on the people and activities that "help" the most)
  • You have a decision-making process already in place
  • And - all Your systems (financial, logistical, discipleship, etc) are workable and they allow you to focus on your one BIG thing

WHEN TO GO and TRY SOMETHING ELSE, either in or outside of the present business/job

  • Change is generally a good thing: it helps you (and the business) to grow and become more creative – people learn new skills and strategies
  • There is opportunity for growth (financial and personal)
  • You can become a disrupter and challenge the status quo
  • You have been misunderstanding the business/personal signs to keep on with the same old (here's a most awesome TEDtalk on this: http://www.ted.com/talks/kathryn_schulz_on_being_wrong#
  • Your pros now outweigh (even if they don't outnumber) your cons to stay the same
  • The environment (culture, technology, economy, customer needs/demands) has changed and you must readjust
  • This one is BIG:you can't answer important questions, like, "Why are you doing this? Why is x, y, or z happening? How did you/we miss that?"
  • Your short cuts are cutting you and the business short and you are not doing "the job" right anymore
  • You have tried everything you can think of and it's still not working the way it is now
  • KEY: The only things keeping you from changing or quitting is your pride and your fear
  • You have continued financial and/or other major losses and you do not see not much change for the future
  • And finally, your own priorities have changed and you have a different view of your business idea and your work

I hope this helps you with your change decision- to do or not to do. Next timew, we will look at the change process, itself.

Have a very creative and innovative rest of your week,
Patricia Jehle