Managing change The anxiety  of it all! Fear of change stems from low self esteem Low self esteem = doubting your ability to cope Change threatens your security if your self esteem is low. Those with high self esteem resent change at worst not fear it. Both resist change if their personal identity is tied to the status quo. Change is enjoyable only if you have no stake in the status quo.

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How can you better cope with change?

• Self-initiated change is not necessarily easier - bad habits are hard to give up.
• Fear of the unknown can keep us from taking some promotions or retiring.
• The key to change is to try out the new before you give up the old - like keeping an old computer system going while you implement a new one.
• It is backwards to think people can first decide to change and then simply do it.
• We need to try it first and only then decide it is OK or at least not too threatening.
• Change agents err in thinking that people are just rational, not emotional too.
• The pressure of change is an intense test of emotional intelligence.
• Too many change agents emphasize communication of rational arguments and facts.
• As if all you need to do is be clear and logical and everyone will be reasonable.
• Asking people to be reasonable means asking them to accept YOUR reasons.
• Involvement in planning change helps but is not as good as actually experiencing the new ways yourself - pilot projects are better than wholesale change all in one go.
• From a psychological point of view, managing change is about helping people maintain or enhance their self esteem through the period of transition.

All pages written by Mitch McCrimmon, Ph.D. and copyright © Self Renewal Group 1996-2007