3 Keys: Open the doors to change

Change. Energy change is constantly occurring in this universe, and this change is accelerated by force. Like many things in nature, change appears as a simple concept, yet it can be quite a challenge to understand it, and your reaction to it. This article will provide you with three keys to unlock the doors of managing change. Your possession of the 3 keys of People, Process, and Product can accelerate your journey through all your future changes.

3 keys to manage change

Key 1: People. "Realise your resistance"
People, like all energies, resist change. The key is to understand ‘how’ you resist, and how you can manage your resistance to achieve your objective. There are several models of human change resistance, all basically describing the change lifecycle stages that we go through, over the period of change from conception time zero, to completion time when we have fully optimised to the new state. These stages are described as ignorance, denial, resistance, exploration, commitment, and optimisation. As in any population bell curve, some people will have lower resistance to changing state (ie their change reflex is faster), depending mostly on their personal characteristics and the impact of the change on them. If your change resistance is minimised, then it only takes a small ‘Change Force’ to effect your rapid acceleration to the new state. For example, getting you up at 5am every morning would probably have you resisting and complaining. So, to reduce that resistance we could motivate you with a ‘carrot’ of money, or a ‘stick’ of a fine for being late. Sound familiar? Alternatively, some people need convincing from factual (even irrelevant) details. For example, in this case of an early start, providing data on your high morning testosterone and low outside air pollution levels could lower your resistance to change. Others may be inspired by the comparative or positive spin of a ‘rags to riches, celebrity star’ story, such as ‘Mr. Billionaire starts work at 4am!’. When combined with the other change keys, stubborn mules can become willing champions of the change. Understanding how you react to change, and how your resistance is overcome, is the door that this key unlocks. Use this people key wisely, and next time you feel yourself resisting a change, consciously reflect on your resistance reaction. Also, be aware how other parties may use this key on you, to reduce your resistance to their change.

Key 2: Process. "Manage your change lifecycle"
This key is about understanding ‘the process’ to achieve change. The key of process can unlock change so smoothly that you move from old state to new state with no resistance. This key is perfected by modern project management techniques, effecting efficient actions at each stage of your change lifecycle, from conception to completion, to reduce your resistance (ie accelerate your change state). To fully explain the change process and this key of change requires a one day workshop, however the main elements to this process key are planning, leadership, and communication. The change process must be planned in consideration of the product logistics, and how ‘stubborn’ you are going to be in changing to use this new product.

A skilled change ‘leader’ will plan, and implement change process tools to best fit your change situation, and reaction. The process of communication has to sell you the change, by convincing you that the new state (new product) will actually be better for you. Some would consider this advertising, others may call it propaganda. The process applies the right effects, efficiently (at the right time) to change your behaviour. For example, it may be a communication on early-bird parking rates that finally convinces you to now change to that 5am start. It may also involve timing your change to start at a special time or place, and prepping you up to commit to that. The key is being aware of how the management process influences your change situation and state. Apply the process key of leadership, planning and communication whether you want to manage a change in yourself, or appreciate how someone else may be changing you.

Key 3 : Product : "You vote with your feet".
‘People’ undergo a change ‘process’, encouraging them to change from state A to state B. That new state B is the new ‘product’, and is the third key to managing change. The ‘product’ is arguably the most important key to any change. This is because pushing people to change to a poor product is bound to generate great resistance, regardless of how well the actual process is rolled out, because, it is a rare person that is happy using a poor product. Even the best ‘people and process’ manager may have difficulty convincing Eskimo’s to buy a new product called ice because they already can get that exact product for free. However, if the new ice ‘product’ was ‘polar-bear friendly’ some Eskimos may consider it a better product, and change to buy that new ice product. This key is further complicated by product relativity, as what may be a poor product for you, may be a great product for someone else. For example, your Boss may think changing all staff from fixed to mobile phones at similar cost is great, as everyone is then on call 24*7. Relatively, that change may be a poor product for you. However unless you resign, you are forced (pushed) to change. Many ‘poor’ products have been successfully sold before because it was relatively good for the person that changed to it (toxic pesticides to farmers, wars to politicians/ industry, petrol price hikes to oil stakeholders). The point is, if the product is great to one market segment of people, it sells itself (pulled), to the extent that the process challenges are then planning to supply such demand. Making a change is lot easier if you are convinced that the new product is going to be better than the previous product you were using. However if you don’t like a product, you always retain the power to vote with your feet, by walking away to resist the change. Alternatively, if the customer is convinced that the product is ‘better’ then the key is turned and the change is ‘pulled’ through the market door as the customer’s feet walk them in to buy. Be willing to change your ‘product’ rather than suffer consequences of change resistance. Choose a product that is ‘better’ for you or your customers. ‘Better’ product is a big key to successful change, and those that possess an awareness of this key will able to stroll through cipher-locked doors of change with ease.

Using the 3 Keys to Change.
Overall, change is a rather intangible asset. It is not something you can really touch. However, by understanding the nature of the beast that is change, one is better able to manage its energies. A better product rolled out with a well-designed process will effect a smooth change welcomed by the majority of people. Alternatively, a poor product pushed out with draconian process can create violent uprising by many people. The ethical dilemma here is that being able to manipulate personal response to change is a powerful set of keys. However, I trust that by your being aware of these change management keys you will now react in wisdom to your future changes. As stated at the outset, energy change is constantly present in this universe. With these 3 keys, you can manage future changes to make your life journey a more pleasant experience.

For more information, please contact Karl Matthews (Change Consultant, MBTI-E Psychotherapist, MBA, B.Eng.) via Reception@CBDConsultancy.com