I have been looking at all that has been happening in the past couple of weeks and it's impossible to get away from our changing political situation. Today's paper screamed the headlines of a new Prime Minister and all the changes that can be expected – new faces coming in, new cabinet. Exciting times ahead as we look at what the new Prime Minister is going to do. I thought back to different Prime Ministers over the years, will probably date myself when I say this, but I still remember Nehru, not from my own memory but from my dad's. I remember his speeches. I took part in a competition for Gandhi Jayanti and had to talk on Nehru. So I got a book on all his speeches. I remember being fascinated by them especially the one he gave when Mahatma Gandhi died: "The light has gone out from amongst us." what a wonderful speech that was!
But thinking about the different Prime Ministers from him to Nanda, to Indira Gandhi, to Narsimha Rao, Rajiv Gandhi, Vajpayee – all of them have come and ushered in leadership at different stages in the life of our country. Today we have Mr. Narendra Modi as our new Prime Minister. Along with it comes change. We have to anticipate that there will be changes and what those changes will be, we don't know. That will take some unveiling. But how we are going to adapt to those changes will be important for us.
As we look at change on an affective domain level, we have both, expectations and cynicism. On one hand, we can look forward with expectation and say, "I'm glad this has happened. I'm keen to see what changes will come of this and how it will affect my life and the work that I do and the permissions that I need. Will there be a new bureaucracy in place? Will there be speeded-up decision-making?" all that can create expectations that are good for us. That's a good place for us to be in – to be able to look at change with expectation.
On the other hand, it is also possible to look at change with some amount of cynicism. "I wonder whether this will work. I'm not sure about this. I've seen change come and go. A new broom sweeps well." That attitude is more of a pessimistic attitude and might leave us on the periphery while the nation moves forward. You look at these two affective domains that we have and we say that it might be good for us to be positive about this. What is going to happen that can affect me and the work that I do and the company that I represent positively rather than sitting on the sidelines and being cynical about things.
But on the behavioral level, it's really a question of – should I ride the wave or should I sit out on the shore? Should I get in on this or should I not? This may pass. So your behavior may begin to represent some of the things that you feel in your mind. When we look at what has happened to us over the years and the different people who have been at the helm, it's always good, in a sense, to look at the people who say, "Let's be positive about this. Let's embrace the change and see how it can help the betterment of all that I am doing." But ultimately it boils down to you. How you and I accept the change that is upon us because, like it or not, it is here. We have to have a response to change. Change that happens in spite of you, rather than because of you, is a problem. If the change that is coming at the Center doesn't affect you and you don't align and begin to work along with the change, then it's going to leave you behind.
So as you look at what's going to happen in the days and months ahead, it would be good to have a positive attitude and see how this could be adapted to suit me. How can I see what's coming? How can I look into the future and predict some of the things that will happen that can help me to bring that change and make it work for me in my work environments?
Three things you will have to do as you look at what needs to be done in your work environment in the light of changing scenarios in Delhi that can filter down to our areas of work.
· Define the change
· Sell the change
· Execute the change
So as you look at how this changing scenario can work in your workplace, be the one to promote it rather than to resist it. To do that, you have to say that if it's change that has happened in Delhi, here's how it's going to change in my sphere of work. Then you need to be able to sell that change to the people who are with you. Finally, believe in it to the point where you dive in headfirst and execute the changes that have to be made.
Some years back, I talked to you about the Attitude Bell Curve. The authors, Bill Cole and Rick Seaman wrote on 'Managing Change In Your Business – The Attitude Bell Curve And Mental Toughness As Business Tools'. They said, "If you're leading change in your business organization, know for sure that there will be people who will be resistant and there will be people who are supportive. But the Attitude Bell Curve puts those percentages as very small. 15% of people will be resistant to change and 15% will be supportive. Don't concentrate on them. Instead, concentrate on the 70% who are neutral. If you can get them to move, you can bring about change. Don't concentrate on the resistant, because they cannot be convinced. Don't concentrate on the supportive, because they don't need convincing. If you can get the 70% to move, you will be able to bring change into your area."
A good word for us! As we look at change happening all around us, let's not be resistant. Let's be able to adapt to the changes and see how we can use the changes that are happening around us to bring change that will be good for us in our work environment.
Somebody said, "Times of economic difficulty can inspire extraordinary innovation." If you take out economic, (and I really don't want to go there) times of difficulty, or times of change, always inspire extraordinary innovation.
So I wonder today, as you look at the changes that are happening around, whether, in your mind, as you look at your realm of work, you can begin to start thinking innovatively. Look at change and say, "I can bring about change in this changing environment. I can bring about change that will make things much better for me and the people who are working with me."
Along with change, of course, comes a certain amount of apprehension and fear. Catherina Von Schlegel wrote a song 'Be Still, My Soul' and in it she says, "In every change, He faithful will remain." The 'He' here refers to God. God remains the constant for us. He is the unchanging person. He is the solid rock that we can be anchored to. As we look at change around us, remember that God is still in control. He is the rock on which we stand. Tethered to Him, we can look at all the change that is happening and weather it and be able to make it work for us and be a positive way forward in all of this.
So I ask that you will be able to take what is happening and use it positively for you in your work environments.
Let me pray for you. Almighty God. Help us as we look at change, to be able to know to respond to it. Help us to respond positively to it. Help us not to respond with cynicism or fear or apprehension, but to know that in every change, You are faithful and will lead us through it. Give us that confidence, we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
• Saul McLeod, "Attitude & Behavior." http://www.simplypsychology.org/attitudes.html
• Dorie Clark, "How the Best Leaders Embrace Change." http://www.forbes.com/sites/dorieclark/2013/11/05/how-the-best-leaders-embrace-change/
• Bill Cole, MS, MA and Rick Seaman, MBA, "Managing Change In Your Business:The Attitude Bell Curve And Mental Toughness As Business Tools."http://www.mentalgamecoach.com/articles/ManagingChange.html
• Catherina Von Schlegel, "Be Still, My Soul." http://www.lutheran-hymnal.com/lyrics/tlh651.ht
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