My consulting partner and I often work with companies that are undergoing extensive change. While seeking our assistance, they often want to move quickly in order to get it over with, move on and get back to normal: the problem is that people need time to process change in order to understand and adapt to any new normal. So, our first job is to get them to slow down and develop a plan for moving forward. Change takes careful planning – it’s too easy to overlook the many ways it can impact someone’s security and trust; lots of communicating – with just the right amount of listening, understanding, empathizing, and answering questions; and careful implementation – stick to the plan because it’s doubly disruptive to undo what might have been too quickly or insensitively done. Don’t try to do it all at once – it’s usually too complex and getting it right is better than doing it fast. Don’t obsess with getting it perfect… that can be the enemy of progress. And don’t forget that a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Be careful with change today.
Lao Tzu (4thcentury BC): Chinese philosopher and writer whose name literally meant “Old Master”
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