Cultivating a Healthy Response to Change

The biggest comment we hear from executives to whatever change they are proposing is a concern about resistance to the change by people in their organizations, their customers or partners. Resistance is a natural, normal response especially when there is a perception those changes are being “imposed” on them. Leaders engage with us because they are looking for a team who is not only going to bring tools, techniques and years of experience but is going to support them in managing resistance through a structured approach to implementing organizational change.

Focused on the Individual

The research continues to show that lasting organizational change happens one person at a time. Once a critical mass has bought in to the change, the rest soon follow. This is why we start by focusing on individuals and small groups, where people are more comfortable to share their real concerns, hopes, and expectations…what we find is typically at the root of any potential resistance. With that insight we partner with project teams and leaders to co-create meaningful engagements, mitigation strategies and approaches for the stakeholders impacted.

Change Saturation and Fatigue

We don’t have to look far to see that the pace of change in the world around us is ever-accelerating. Change saturation and change fatigue are two areas we often see coming out of our engagements with individuals and small teams. This can lead to employee burn-out, lack of engagement, lower productivity, checking out and a host of other negative responses. In short, a lack of change resilience.

Change Resilience and Mindfulness Practices

At the heart of mindfulness is a cultivated awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment without judgment. That non-judgmental awareness may be around our thoughts, feelings or bodily sensations as it relates to what’s happening both at home and at work. The stresses of change and learning to cultivate awareness of our responses to it; in our bodies, our thoughts or our emotions is where mindfulness practices can be of great benefit. Recent research has shown that by establishing regular and sustained mindfulness practices at work we can create a more change resilient culture leading to better outcomes for our people and change efforts over time.

Is it Worth it?

Those that apply a systematic approach to change management coupled with embedding mindfulness practices into their organizations will likely see benefits in the following areas:

• higher rates of adoption and ultimate utilization

• greater levels of engagement

• increased proficiency in using new systems and processes

• improved employee morale

• more effective leadership

• lower turnover

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHANGE