5 MYTHS ABOUT CHANGE

Demoralizing The Workplace II

1. CRISIS is a powerful force for change
From my experiences working in health care, cardiac patients rarely modify their “negative” behaviors to decrease the likelihood for another incident. Furthermore, some people caring for cardiac patients are likely to smoke, be obese or exhibit the kind of behaviors that are being discouraged in the people they are caring for.
People like their comfort zone. If a crisis scenario is forced on them, the likely response is to retreat and feel powerless. This is how dictators are able to control and manipulate large populations.
2. FEAR motivates change
Cognitive dissonance is a powerful attitudinal force that people use as a defense mechanism. For example, smokers believe that poor health will happen to someone else or that spending an extra few thousand dollars on a car was worth it.
In the workplace, people are motivated by a positive vision with clearly defined outcomes and rewards.
3. FACTS will guide people to accept change
Everyone has a conceptual framework that is comprised of values, morals, beliefs, knowledge, attitudes and behaviors. If the facts don’t fit the framework, they will be set aside.
People know that hurricanes are destructive forces, yet many refuse to leave an area believing that they can ride out the storm. Americans know that gasoline supplies will eventually run out yet they continue to buy gas gulpers.
4. SMALL changes are better than all at once, large scale change
“Cold turkey” (wholesale, all-at-once change) works for people trying to quit drugs or smoking rather than a wean strategy. Gastric bypass surgery helps obese people regain control over food better than diet programs. A newborn will help parents stay focused on building accountability better than a “to-do” list.
In the workplace, a large scale overhaul may be more effective in creating new opportunities instead of a linear piece-by-piece plan. Remember the “definition” of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.
5. I’m TOO OLD to change
Many people believe that their brain is “hard-wired” and change is impossible. Actually, the brain will accept whatever you decide to input. If you make a commitment to continuous learning, you can do anything you choose (doesn’t mean it will make you wealthy, just more competent). People are responsible for personal change; you can’t change others you can only change yourself. We live, we change, we grow and just when it seems everything is stable, it is time to start over.
Alvin Toffler in his ground breaking book, Future Shock (1970) said: The definition of illiteracy in the 21st century will not be the inability to read but the inability to UNLEARN, LEARN and RE-LEARN.
Many people believe that Darwin’s theory of evolution was that the strong or fit will survive. Actually what he said was that survival belongs to those who adapt.

GROWTH <> LEADERSHIP <> EXCELLENCE
© 2006 3 Minute Learning LLC