Fun Facts to Find Comfort with Change
Much of my work in speaking, consulting, and training produces growth and change. In April, I will speak at the International Help Desk 2009 Conference on the topic Leading Change and Neutralizing Resistance in Customer Service & Help Desks. It is always a hot topic because so many humans have difficulty dealing with change. Most see it as a loss. In a future article on this blog, I will address this topic more seriously.
On this grey winter day, I would rather share fun facts to find comfort with change. I hope you enjoy.
(You are welcome to share the content of this blog with your colleagues and friends, with other blogs, and in other articles. I ask only that you credit me as the source with this URL: www.smartpeopleskills.com).
Change is going on at this very moment. Even if you experience change as a loss, you don’t stress out over it when you aren’t aware of the loss.
1. “Humans shed about 600,000 particles of skin every hour. That works out to about 1.5 pounds each year, so the average person will lose around 105 pounds of skin by age 70.“ Source:http://health.howstuffworks.com/16-unusual-facts-about-the-human-body2.htm
You don’t shed tears over shedding your skin do you? No. Although I would like to know where all those skin particles go.
2. “Did you know that you get a new stomach lining every three to four days? If you didn’t, the strong acids your stomach uses to digest food would also digest your stomach.” Source:http://health.howstuffworks.com/16-unusual-facts-about-the-human-body2.htm
After reading this, would you resist the change and try to keep your old stomach lining?
3. “You may not want to swim in your spit, but if you saved it all up, you could. In a lifetime, the average person produces about 25,000 quarts of saliva — enough to fill two swimming pools!” Source:http://health.howstuffworks.com/16-unusual-facts-about-the-human-body2.htm
I’ll pass on saving up saliva. Thanks.
There are positive changes that stress people out as well.
1. Starting a new fantastic job
2. Getting married
3. Buying a house/relocating
4. Becoming a parent
In these situations, you are aware of the change and often not aware of the loss. So ironically, people frequently say: “Why am I unhappy? I’m supposed to be overjoyed!” If you were unhappy in your job or were unemployed, a new fantastic job should mean happiness. Yet in the process of learning the new job, you face temporary dips in productivity, in feeling expert, and in confidence. These momentary losses create stress.
Of course, it wouldn’t be an article on change without quoting the axiom: People fear the unknown. Really? Try this silly little exercise. Close your eyes and imagine all the things in life you don’t know. Do you feel afraid? Probably not. In fact, some people find the unknown to be exciting.
What many people fear is the unknown outcome of a change. Will I succeed in this higher level job? Will I lead this new organization well after all the layoffs? Will I find people I like when I relocate? Will I be able to make the mortgage payments? Will it resell at a profit?
Change the words and conquer the fear. Years back I made the decision to leave my corporate job, by choice, and start my own business. Happy time, right? Yes until the full reality stared me in the face. All the “will I” fears noted above crept into my brain. I then switched the words from will I to what and how. What do I need to do? What workshops will organizations buy more frequently? How will I differentiate my services? What is the biggest success I can picture? How far can I go? What and how created action that transformed the fear of the unknown outcome into actual outcomes and success.
Whether you are leading a change, swept up in a change, or choosing a change, action is as essential to your success as the air you breathe is to your survival. If however you get stuck in fear, I recommend two powerful classic books to move you to action: Transitions by William Bridges and The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino.
What else helps you feel comfortable with change? Please share your comments in the field below.
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Kate Nasser, The People-Skills Coach
Speaking and Training on Customer Service, Teamwork, Thriving in Change
908.595.1515 (USA)
Thanks for 20 years and counting …
MA Organizational Psychology
Continuous Learner