The prevailing belief is that people don't like change. If that were true, no one would ever get married or have a baby.
Here's what is actually true: Human beings are OK with change (sometimes) when we are prepared for it, in control of it, and see a win for ourselves at the end.
2020 didn't follow that script. That's why the changes of the last 18 months have, in many ways, felt exhausting (not exciting).
As uncertainty remains, back-to-office plans stumble, and organizations continue to overuse the word 'pivot,' it's easy to feel depleted.
If your emotional fuel tank is running on fumes, try these three tips:
Let yourself be upset.
Through years of executive coaching, I often see high-performers jump quickly into problem solving. They will leap right over the initial feeling of frustration, doubt, anger, etc., because they know there's work to be done. People are counting on them.
But emotions that are buried alive never die; they only fester. Stuffed down rage? Pushed aside grief? They make appearances at 2 a.m., or sometimes they just live in our subconscious (and our bodies) forever.
However inconvenient, we have to acknowledge our emotions. At work and at home, unspoken emotional undertones have a dramatic impact on our ability to communicate, problem solve, and make decisions.
So, cry it out, go for a run, dance away your rage or sorrow, whatever you need to do to acknowledge and truly feel your feelings. You cannot solve problems in a state of emotional unrest. Once you let your emotions flow through you, you'll have energy for moving to the next phase.
Determine what is in your control.
If you're facing an overwhelming volume of change (i.e. everyone this year), try to focus on what is in your control. There's simply too much going on for anyone to think about all of it.
I find it helpful to work through change by asking myself three things: What is fixed (set in stone)? What is influenceable? What do I control?
No matter what doomscrolling may lead you to believe, you are more in control than you think. You control your own behavior, how you respond to things, and the emotional wake you leave behind your interactions.
Point your mind to the elements of change that actually benefit from your energy.
Embrace "change enthusiasm."
I've learned a lot from Cassandra Worthy, a fellow author and LinkedIn Learning Instructor. She's an expert in change management, and earlier this year, she joined me on LinkedIn Live. In our conversation, she said something that really stuck with me: What if we viewed change as an opportunity for growth?
As a self-professed control-freak, I admire the gusto Cassandra brings into the unknown. She defines change enthusiasm as "a mindset which enables those who practice it the ability to see the value of change, thereby quickly engaging in the opportunity to evolve in the face of frustration."
Change can be hard. It can be messy, painful, and full of setbacks. It can also be a growth opportunity (when we're ready for it to be).
The world is not slowing down. Embracing change is a decision you can make every day. So let out your frustration, safeguard your headspace, and put yourself in the driver's seat.
Lisa Earle McLeod is an advisor, consultant, and speaker, who works with senior executives and sales teams around the world. Her clients include Salesforce, LinkedIn, Roche, Dave & Busters and Peterbilt Trucking. Her bestselling books include "Selling with Noble Purpose" and "Leading with Noble Purpose."