Ugg and Bogg: the Threats of Change
There are three starting points for change: external pressures; internal pressures; and proactive change. External change arises because of changes in the environment that force organisations and individuals to change. Internal change arises when the organisation and individuals within the organisation recognise pressing needs to update, improve or re-organise. Proactive change arises when, regardless of pressing needs, the organisation takes its own decision to change. All 3 types of change can be experienced by individuals in an organisation. In extreme cases they may all be happening at the same time. The result can be that individuals see change as a major threat and resist it.
The Threats of Change: the Story of Ugg and Bogg
The story of Ugg and Bogg is an example of how change can threaten our position, our status, and our identity of who we are.
Ugg and Bogg have operated successfully for some years as official carriers. Between them they have supplied all the cave's water needs, have dragged in the dinosaur carcass and collected roots and berries. Because of their strength and expertise they are the official bearers of King Og. As a result, they are accorded privileges not given to others such as extra pterodactyl and a place near the fire.
One day, as Ugg and Bogg are carrying a load into the cave, Ack bursts through the bushes shouting with excitement and carrying a smooth long piece of wood with two circular flat cross-sections of tree on each end...
The Threats of Change: Taking People with You
Change in any form can be traumatic. It is even more traumatic if it comes rapidly, incessantly and over too short a time period. Alvin Toffler says that people can go into a state of near-physical shock, what he calls "future shock", when faced with overwhelming change.
But change is nothing abnormal or unnatural. We manage it in our own lives and so should be able to accept it in our working lives. There are, however, a number of essential steps if we want to take people with us...
• understand people's fears
• prepare people by creating the right conditions for change in the organisation
• involve people if the changes affect them personally
• communicate incessantly
• avoid making change a battleground for conflict
• follow the steps of the natural change process.
The Threats of Change: Training Resources
At ManageTrainLearn, we have a wealth of materials to help you make the adjustments needed by change.
Here is a link to our highly popular Change Management E-Manual.
This link will take you to the free Change Management e-course which will give you instant sign-up to our 10-day series of daily emails lessons.
Here is a full list of Change Management products from ManageTrainLearn.