This is a reminder to leaders who are attempting to lead change. If you miss this one principle you can greatly damage the effectiveness of change or even your reputation as a leader in the change.
It’s simple, but it is powerful. Huge.
Here it is:
The speed of change is always relative.
See, I told you – simple. No rocket science here, but you must understand this when leading people through a change process.
As the leader, I, or someone on our team, may feel like we are moving at a snail’s pace. Change is taking forever. We are spinning our wheels and not getting anywhere fast. We have more meetings than are necessary. We are explaining the same thing over and over again.
At the same time, others – especially those experiencing the discomfort of change, may feel we are moving at rocket speed. Change is coming so quickly they cannot process it in their mind. They feel the world – or this change – is out of control. There hasn’t been enough discussion about the change. There are still more questions than answers.
Perception to the speed of change is relative to:
- A person’s propensity or aversion to change.
- The degree of comfort established in what we are currently doing.
- Who or what initiated the change.
- The perceived size of the change.
- The degree of personal risk involved.
- How the change is implemented.
- The way the process of change is communicated.
- My understanding of or buy-in to the “why” behind the change.
- The level of personal sacrifice involved in the change.
- The trust established in current leadership.
When you hear people talking about how fast or slow things are changing, remember their response is relative to their individual context.
Knowing this principle will help the leader be more sensitive to the reaction of others. It will help him or her with casting vision effectively. It will protect the leader from the perception of “running over people” with change.
This one understanding will make you a better change leader.
Think of this principle – the speed of change is relative – in your present context.
How fast are things changing in your life right now? Do you wish they were changing faster or slower?
TOTALLY agree! I remember years ago hearing a speaker talk about how it feels to a congregation when the leader is trying to implement rapid fire changes. His analogy was a roller coaster. The leader is in the front car screaming with glee, hands in the air. His congregation is in the back cars praying it will end, holding on with a death grip, and fighting back the urge to purge!
Great illustration!