Ch Ch Ch Ch Changes

This morning I upgraded my Apple devices.  As soon as I was done, I eagerly explored my phone to see what was new and changed.  I liked the changes.  I can't wait to get my new phone at the end of the month. 

Last week I logged onto Facebook and there were changes.  I hesitantly clicked around to see what had changed and decide if I liked it or not.  My newsfeed was full of other people complaining about the changes.  The 'real' news was full of stories about people complaining about the changes. 

As a Human Resources development person with a MSA (Master of Science in Administration), much of my education was focused on managing change in large organizations.  In a nutshell, 2 years of education and several thousand dollars can be summed up by three words...communicate, communicate, communicate.

Now wouldn't you think the genious who could change the entire world's way of communicating would be able to figure this concept out?

Look at how Apple implements their changes:  Before they say a word, they build up anticipation by leaking little bits and pieces about what the changes are going to be.  Then they announce a date that they will make an announcement and the excitement mounts.  By the time they finally make the announcement, everyone is prepared to love whatever it is.   Then they make the announcement, but you still can't get it, more waiting...oh wait, you can pre-order!  Hurray!  Now you wait for your new device (or software) to arrive.  After all of this anticipation your mind is preprogrammed to love the change. 

Look at how FB implements their changes:  You wake up one morning and people are complaining on FB about the 'new FB' layout.  Your FB looks exactly the same.  You get on the 'real news' to see if you can find out what they are talking about.  Nothing there yet.  You wait anxiously (not the same as anticipating) for the change to strike your FB page.  One morning you wake up and everything is different.  You have 'the new FB', oh no, what is wrong with it?  You poke around expecting a stink bomb at every click of the button.  Eventually you get used to it and dread the next change.

Confusion

In general people hate change, but there are ways to make it more tolerable and even exciting.  In your workplace, in your family, with your friends, even in your own life you can make changes by communicating a positive message and allowing time for it to become a positive thing.  Any sudden, unexpected change causes stress and confusion.

I did this (internally) with my exercise program.  I had to stop yoga for a few weeks because I didn't want to give up those hours with my mom.  But every day I reminded myself, I can't wait to get back to yoga, I feel so good after yoga, so when I finally had the chance to go back I was excited about it and motivated to do it.  And I'm back at yoga now and feeling great!

It's all in how you look at it.

At the end of the month my husband will be changing from a Droid to an iPhone.  I plan to have him so excited to make this change that he won't even think to get frustrated when things are a bit different. 

Think about this next time you have to make a change--move, new school, new job, new process, new equipment, marriage, divorce, kids moving away--some changes may not seem so great on the face of it, but life takes you down a road that isn't always in your control.  How you communicate that change to yourself and to others can make everything better or much, much worse.