Change fatigue is real.
We feel it personally when too much is changing too fast in our personal lives. I've learned not to barrage my kids (or spouse) with everything they need to change all at once. I introduce new things slowly and let them acclimate then move on to the next.
Many organizations and businesses have engaged professional change agents to introduce strategic changes in the workplace, recognizing that employees need to time to adjust to changes in the workplace.
Let's face it, some of us can naturally roll with the punches more than others. But others need time to process, absorb and enact a plan of action in response to change.
Change fatigue isn't limited to the personal or work environment, I see it evident in the way society and culture are changing so rapidly. I won't speak to the good or bad of these changes, I just want to acknowledge the fact that change is happening so rapidly and for many people change is difficult. So some food for thought today...
If you are resistant to change, ask yourself why. Is the resistance really about the proposed 'new way of thinking, responding or doing' or do you resist the fact that change is involved at all? Change is inevitable and constant, so let's not just react to the fact that change is here. Let's make a plan for how to absorb change and move into the next new normal.
If you find yourself frustrated with people for resisting change, take a step back and recognize that sometimes people are more resistant to the 'different' than the actual change itself. Let's give others time to think, respond and process rather than assume they are rebelling against the change itself.
Let's watch how much we barrage people with societal ills. I'm not suggesting we should remain quiet when we see wrong or change needed, but if we truly want to be heard and invoke change, we may be best served by a planned approach to inform accompanied by suggested solutions rather than vomiting a laundry list of wrongs all at once.
Bottom line? Let's be mindful of change fatigue. Let's recognize it in ourselves and others and work to give time to process, absorb and enact a plan of action in response to change. We may be world changers but let's be smart with how we change the world.
-Mindy Muller, CFRE, President/CEO of CDP
