This article was originally published March 25, 2020. It was updated in June 2023.
Change is the only constant. Today, we are experiencing a pace of change that has never been seen before in human history. Technology, communications, globalization and a connected world of over 7.5 billion people are just some of the reasons driving the pace of change. And to be successful in our communities and businesses, we need to get good at change.
This is nothing new for business leaders. Conrad Hilton founded the Hilton Hotel Group in the early 1900s, and is credited with saying,
There are 3 types of companies:
- Those that make things happen
- Those that watch things happen
- And those who wonder what happened
The implication here is clear. Organizations that are not only comfortable with change, but those that can be on the leading edge of change have the advantage.
Effective change leadership accepts this reality: organizations are not comfortable with change but those that can be on the leading edge of change have the advantage.
The Change Valley
Despite its importance, change can also be problematic for people. It usually involves uncertainty, stress and discomfort. This is especially true when the change trigger or stimulus happens to us as opposed to us initiating the change. Examples of this could include suddenly losing a job, having an unexpected competitor enter the market, or discovering a family member has an illness.
We can better manage change in our lives by identifying the feelings we are having using a model called the “Change Valley” that I first learned about from my friend David Irvine. This model helps us to plot where we are in the process of change, and what the next steps may be. Most change follows this pattern, though the time spent in each phase and the depth of the “valley”, can differ greatly.
To better illustrate how this model works, let’s take the example of learning to drive a car. Before the change stimuli, the status quo is using other modes of transportation: friends, family, public or private transportation systems. Then the stimulus arrives either as a proactive decision (I want to learn to drive) or a reaction to something externally (my parents want me to drive). That trigger moves us into the valley as we begin our learning. In the early days it’s very uncertain, even frightening, as we get behind the steering wheel for the first time. We try, we fail, we experiment, we practice, we make mistakes and hopefully we keep trying. Then slowly, sometimes very slowly, we begin to climb back out of the valley as we grow in confidence, skill and certainty. Ultimately, we reach the far side of the valley, a new status quo, with greater certainty and growth than the starting point.
In some cases, people need help crossing the valley. This can happen for many reasons; maybe the journey is too long or hard, or the valley too deep for that individual’s fortitude.
Maybe circumstances change such that the goal is no longer attractive or worthwhile. Or possibly the expected resources or support don’t show up. In these situations, a person will often climb back to the starting side of the valley, returning to the original status quo.
Change Management and Learning
“The end of learning is not knowledge, but action.”
Herbert Spencer
The example provided above is not just a journey of change, but also a journey of learning; the two always go hand in hand. To deal with or capitalize on change, we must learn new skills and behaviours. And by increasing our skills by learning new behaviours, we are more willing and able to initiate and activate change in our businesses and lives. Learning and change are inseparable.
In our work here at Results we are very blessed to interact with the people in our society who are very skilled in the change-learning equation. These are the entrepreneurs in our communities. I like to call them the “Change Sherpas”, those people who are rarely satisfied with the status quo and who seem to be constantly looking for the next change valley to dive into (and yes, they often drive their employees and families crazy).
And don’t underestimate the importance of the Change Sherpas. A glance at our nation’s commercial statistics will show that net employment growth for the past 25 years does not come from big companies or the public sector. It comes from small and medium sized entrepreneurial companies. These firms, and their leaders, drive the economic engine.
Leadership Styles for Change Management
Successful change leadership starts with understanding how the Change Valley model applies to any large-scale transformation. All of the common leadership models for change take the Change Valley (and human psychology in general) into account when recommending change management initiatives.
Understanding and using the Change Valley Model is a valuable tool for leaders. Change is often initiated and guided by leaders, and they can help their people see where they are in the model, validate feelings, and help them get to the next stage. Successful change leaders are the Sherpas for their teams as they travel through the valley by providing encouragement, support, route advice, and regular reminders of how great the view will be on the other side. Effective change leaders cater these ideas and recommendations around their own decision-making processes and management processes.
How are you or your people moving through the Change Valley?
Article by Tim O’Connor
