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We Are Not in the Same Boat...
noreply • Apr 27, 2020
How many times have you heard the expression 'we're in the same boat' - often expressed by people leading change.
Well, as we turn to social media during these lockdown times, I wanted to share with you a few lines from a post that is doing the rounds on Facebook:
"I heard that we are all in the same boat, but it's not like that. We are sailing in the same storm, but not in the same boat. Your ship could be shipwrecked and mine might not be. Or vice versa.
For some, quarantine is welcomed. A moment of reflection, of re-connection, easy in flip flops, with a cocktail or coffee. For others, this is a desperate financial & family crisis.
For some that live alone they're facing endless loneliness. While for others it is peace, rest & time with their mother, father, sons & daughters.
Some are bringing in extra money with endless overtime, Others are working more hours for less money due to pay cuts or loss in sales. Others no longer have a job."
What this tells you is that everyone experiences the change differently. Whether it's an enforced change or change by choice, people will react and respond according to its impact on them and their situation pre- and post change. This is a concept known as 'gains and losses'.
I have often heard myself telling clients never to underestimate the impact of change - even the slightest change and even if that change appears an obvious necessity or is seen as beneficial.
So, if you are a leader in times of change or are supporting a loved one through change related to Covid-19, it's so important for you to know that everyone is different and will respond differently to you. You need to understand what the gains and losses are for someone to be able to help them through to the other side.
This requires you to demonstrate empathy, patience and personal resillience, combined with open questioning and coaching to show you genuinely care.
Over the next few weeks, I'll be digging out some useful articles and more references on this subject.
My take on what you need to consider when devising a People Change Strategy
This is a great TedX talk from Angela Ceberano on creating a fear project that helps you to positively tackle your fear and create opportunities from it rather than staying in your comfort zone and not achieving your dreams.
Change can be a stressful experience, so learning how to stay calm and cope with the uncertainty of change is really important. In this video, Julian Hall from Calm People outlines some ways that you can stay calm in times of ambiguity. He is also offering free access to his emotional assessment and support tool http://myinternalworld.com until 21st June 2020.
We all feel anxious at times but living with constant anxiety is a cruel existence. For years, anxiety stopped me from achieving my goal of running my own business and from saying 'yes' to opportunities to stretch and develop. In order to succeed in life, we need to find a way to cope with any anxieties that may otherwise stop us along the way. In this video, Olivia Remes brings this to life. Grab a coffee and have a listen for 15 mins.
Here is a speaker who is a renowned personal effectiveness expert. Stephen Covey, author of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People shares his thinking. It looks like it was filmed some time ago judging by the haircuts but his words resonated with me to this day. In particular, sharpen the saw - keep it fresh - keep learning and moving forward...