No One Changes Without a Fight
I know people who say they embrace change and others who say they hate it. I’d suggest to you that no one finds change easy – unless it is someone else who’s doing the changing!
There are four steps that we all go through during the change process. Close your eyes and picture a ski jump. It closely resembles the trip.
The first step is “Norming.” You’re standing at the top of the hill ready to go. You believe in the concept of change and have faith that it will be a good thing. So you push off from the starting gate and begin.
You start heading down the hill still confident, but beginning to ask yourself if this was such a good idea. As you gather speed and face the reality that change requires letting go of the comfort and security that “sameness” provided, you start to question your sanity for ever starting this “change thing.” You may even want to stop and go back up the hill to where you started from. Because this second step is a battle with self, it is called “Storming.”
You reach the bottom, level off, and start upward toward the end of the jump. This third step is called “Forming.” You’re letting go of the old ways and ready to “launch” into the change. Your not certain how good it will be, but you’re beginning to believe that something exciting is about to happen.
The fourth step is “Soaring.” You’ve successfully moved past your comfort with the “old” way, found value in the “new” idea, embraced what it has to offer and take off with confidence that you’re trip through the change process was the right decision to take.
You may be a daredevil and find the “Storming” trip to be exhilerating, or a risk-averse person who requires a strong push to head down that hill. The process of change does not come easily nor without a rush that challenges your beliefs and pulls you out of your comfort zone. When the time comes, you are likely to find it easier to leave the starting gate when given a little push by a business coach.
Good luck, and enjoy the ride!
