Change is inevitable and necessary, but it is also a major cause of stress and anxiety.
As many organisations face up to big cultural and financial changes, it is important to have some simple techniques up your sleeve to help people handle the uncertainty.
Even the smallest of changes can have a big impact, but if staff employ a few helpful habits it could be the difference between losing control and keeping their heads.
Try these techniques and help your people feel safe during change:
1. Come home to the breath
Sounds so simple, doesn’t it? When everything is changing around you and the feelings of panic arise, returning to your breath will give you some solid ground. Place your hand on your lower belly and feel the breath drop deep. Focus on the flow of air in and out, and enjoy breathing mindfully.
2. Find balance
Think about a change you have been through in the past. What kept you stable throughout? Who helped you? What remained constant in your life? By identifying your stability zones it may help you realise that some things remain unchanged, and that you have a network of people to draw upon. It’s a good way of preventing the change from becoming all consuming.
3. Take control where you can
Change can lead to feelings of loss of control; there probably will be things that you cannot control! This makes it even more important to spend some time identifying those areas of your life and work that you do have real control and influence over. From this strong basis you can draw empowerment, and perhaps begin to let go of a few things which you cannot change.
4. Take tiny steps towards your future
Positive thinking isn’t easy, especially if you feel negative! Think of it as seeing options. Imagine a realistic positive future, think about where you would like to be in a few years, after all the upheaval, and plan to take some first steps to getting there. Again, it’s simple but it can help you feel more in control of your destiny.
These basic tips for managing change successfully may seem obvious, but it’s easy to forget them when you’re in the eye of the storm. If you apply them during the good times, you will build helpful habits for when the going gets tough.
David Windle is director at Opposite Leg Creative Training and Development.
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