Thoughts on Change

Today I’m thinking about change. I notice that Senator Evan Bayh has decided not to run for re-election due to his frustration with a “dysfunctional” Congress. As I re-read John Kotter’s book Leading Change it occurs to me that we (government, businesses, Americans, individuals, humans, you name it) are inherently resistant to change. Change makes us uncomfortable. But when we resist change, we can’t move forward. Not only are we unable to solve problems, but our problems keep growing. This leaves us frustrated and ready to give-up.

Our ability to change is critical. It is how we grow and remain competitive. It is how we solve problems and generate new ideas.  An ability to change at an organizational level requires an ability to change at an individual level.  This individual commitment is key to any successful change initiative.

Each individual must consider whether he/she is embracing change or resisting change.  We all have experience with both positions.  Think about how it feels to be a roadblock. This is a defensive stance which may make us feel strong and powerful and “right”, at least in the short term. I resist change frequently.  Why?  Because it takes me out of my comfort zone.  Is this bad?  Not necessarily, but if I’m not open to change, what else am I “not open” to?  How might my closed-mindedness be limiting my options or experiences?  Now consider how it feels to be a change agent.  Exciting, energizing, and exhilirating. This is an attitude of openness, of exploring the possibilities.  To me, this generates positive energy and makes me feel good.  This is where life has meaning. 

We must assess our willingness to change.  Am I a roadblock? Is being a roadblock conducive to solving the problem at hand? How can I become a facilitator of the change process? Is there a solution I can commit to? If I commit to change, what will my actions look like? 

It seems that an individual commitment to change will translate into individual actions taken towards change. And as more individuals commit, the change process becomes a collective effort. And that’s when we begin to move forward — into solving problems, creating new products, and staying one step ahead of the competition. It all starts with the individual.  Am I open to change?

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