The only certainty in life is change

Approximately 500 years BC, Heraclitus famously wrote that no one can step in the same river twice. The reasoning behind this is that no river, or humans for that matter, stays the same. As the waters pass through a river and tides rise and fall, the river, constantly changes.

Living near the mighty Murray River, has been fascinating to watch the seasonal changes. Here in the Echuca region we have the meeting of the three rivers, Murray, Campaspe and Goulburn. The amount of water during the recent floods was overwhelming yet just a few months later, it is almost hard to recall the amount of water that was around. When you see how much water has passed through and gone, Heraclitus’ statement makes sense, the river is not the same.

We have also seen how much the world and the workplace has changed since the pandemic and other crises or black swan events have occurred. Everybody’s resources have been depleted. But in recent times anecdotally I have observed an increase in movement across workplaces, where people are starting to emerge and embrace new challenges, after having hunkered down for a few years. I don’t see evidence of things “getting back to normal” as everything has changed. But a “new normal” is starting to emerge.

Change is inevitable.

Those that get left behind are often those who do not prepare for change. Those with low risk appetites who would rather maintain the status quo and keep things the same, but in our current climate, the status quo can be an illusion.

All risk management should include the question - what happens if I do nothing? Chances are there will still be change, so it is worth considering how you can be on the front foot rather than the back foot.

Of course there is occasion to minimize disruption, but it is not as often as we think and it needs to be a very specific choice for good reason. And even then the outcome of inactivity needs to be carefully risk assessed and analyzed.

John Kotter has been speaking on Change Management for over four decades, using the following framework. His framework has had a few changes in expression over the years but largely follows these eight steps, with each being critical. Change Management often fails when we ignore a step along the way, so each is worthy of unpacking (or at least reading slowly to take in).

The Framework

1. Create A Sense of Urgency. Help others to see the Need for Change and the Importance of Acting Immediately. ...

2. Pull Together the Guiding Team ...

3. Develop the Change Vision and Strategy. ...

4. Make it Happen. Communicate for Understanding and Buy In...

5. Empower Others and Enable Action By Removing Barriers. ...

6. Generate Short-Term Wins. ...

7. Don’t Let Up. Press Harder and Faster after First Success...

8. Make It Stick. Create a New Culture.

Change is inevitable. If you are a person who is not comfortable with change it is even more critical that you develop your strategic thinking so you can take control of situations around you. If change is going to come (and it will), make the effort to prepare the ground for change in a way that will be strategic - maximizing the conditions you have to work with to meet your objectives. It also means going out of your comfort zone before you are pushed, taking risks that you would prefer not to take. Change is going to come, so be prepared and take control where you can.

Kotter John P, 2012, Leading change, Harvard Business Review Press.