Preparing for change and uncertainty

The topic of change is a very big one and very pertinent in the present challenging times. However, as they say, “the only constant in life is change”. Therefore, we all have to prepare for change personally and professionally throughout our lives.

Fear of change itself, whether that’s fear of success or failure, can paralyse us so we no longer take healthy risks. However, we can help ourselves by considering the question...

What are you scared of?

We can then prepare for change so that we are not steamrollered by it. We can’t avoid having the rug pulled out from under us sometimes - that wouldn’t be real life - but we can learn to dance on a shifting carpet.

Typically, there are six main fears around change and risk:

1. Failure: we might not get what we are aiming for, but we haven’t got it now, so why should we fear failure? If we don’t try, we can’t succeed.
2. Exposure: if it doesn’t come off, it might reflect on our abilities. We get confused between the failure of something we try to do and being a failure ourselves. One certain way to fail is not to try.
3. Embarrassment: if we push something through and it doesn’t work, we might feel others are judging us. One unhelpful way to respond is to keep things the same but feel sorry for ourselves.
4. Conflict: if others don’t share our opinion on something, it may feel as though they are hostile to us. Responding with hostility in return wastes valuable opportunities to share views.
5. Rejection: if risks go haywire, could you lose friendships or even your job? People often think this is likely to happen without thinking about the actual people involved. It is better to talk things through than fear the worst.
6. Loss: any change means loss. The familiar may have disadvantages, but staying with what you know creates a comfort zone. To progress, we have to be willing to walk outside of our comfort zones.

When you are faced with challenge and uncertainty, remember:

You usually have several choices, one of which is to leave things exactly as they are. This might mean taking a risk; for example, not going to the doctor about something that is worrying you. Doing nothing is still a decision.

Other choices involve making plans, including finding out what’s needed, taking steps to fulfil those needs and moving towards your chosen goals. There will be other choices before the goal is achieved, which may bring new discoveries and new ideas. Other people may be involved and be part of the goal-seeking process.

Remember, any personal changes you make will usually involve:

Loss: changing in any way involves losing something of the self. It is almost as if you periodically have to attend your own funeral to say goodbye to certain aspects of yourself.

Fear: this comes from the supposed negative aspects of the change.

Dilemma: this is the ambivalence of not knowing whether the pros and cons are more important.

Gain: this is the benefit that comes from going forward with the change.

You can prepare yourself for change by:

• Thinking about the worst possible result. How would you deal with that?
• Talking to people who have done something similar.
• Thinking of dilemmas as choices rather than problems.
• Running a pilot before you do the real thing, if you can.
• Recognising your emotional reactions. Don’t pretend you are purely a logical human being.
• Expecting to succeed. Optimistic people often succeed because they don’t see setbacks as decisive and keep trying.
• Remembering that no risk = no change = stagnation.