The Times They are a-Changin’

By Guest Columnist, Paul Knudstrup

Bob Dylan’s 1963 song of this title became an anthem during a period of significant change in our society. In addition to Dylan, it has been recorded by many other artists over the years. Although the events that inspired the specific lyrics have faded, the message of change as the only constant still rings true. The COVID-19 pandemic is already driving enormous changes across the world. Most of us are feeling a mix of emotions as we deal with the virus in ourselves or our loved ones — or attempt to avoid it.

Change, whether it’s a minor inconvenience or a major catastrophe, makes most people uncomfortable. We all seek stasis or a degree of predictability in life and tend to resist change. When we have to deal with large-scale change, it’s almost certain to produce anxiety, fear, anger, and/or sadness.

At times like these it’s helpful to understand that effectively dealing with change is a process. We can work through the challenge of change by understanding that process:

• Before Change
• Considering a Change
• Preparing for Change
• Active Change-Making
• Reinforcing the New

Before Change – Until the way we do things now causes truly noticeable discomfort (i.e., pain), we’re in the Before Change stage. We’re not thinking about needing to change, don’t want to change, and aren’t looking for an “attractive remedy” to the current pain.

Considering a Change – Once the current situation becomes painful enough, and we conclude our current reality isn’t working or is too uncomfortable, we start to consider doing things differently.

Preparing for Change – Actually starting to change doesn’t happen until we’ve considered other ways of behaving or other approaches to addressing our discomfort with the current situation. Until we’ve actually made a decision to do something different, change won’t occur; we’ll just remain frustrated.

Active Change-Making – This is when actual change might begin. If exploring alternatives in the previous step leads to a logical or preferred option, different behavior can emerge. But getting started with a change is just that — only a start.

Reinforcing the New – Installing a new behavior or way of operating is not a linear process. It’s often two steps forward and one step back (sometimes one step forward and two steps back!). True change requires patience, understanding, and a commitment to keep moving forward before the new way of operating is reality.

Changing how we do things doesn’t happen easily; after all, we’re heavily invested in what we do and how we do it. That’s true for individuals and organizations. Anyone who’s known about the various virus outbreaks we’ve experienced on this planet in recent (and not so recent) years — bubonic plague, cholera, smallpox, polio, Hong Kong flu, HIV/AIDS, Ebola, and now COVID-19 — would know that another worldwide pandemic was only a matter of time. We were warned and failed to take the actions needed to effectively deal with the current situation. The simple truth is people don’t change until they have to. And because we often don’t take steps to be ready to change, the resulting need to change is more difficult and painful.

The current pandemic is forcing us to question what we currently do and how we’ll operate in the future. Will we ever return to normal? I doubt it. There will become a “new normal,” but that reality is yet to be determined. How and where will work be done? How will we educate our youth and take care of the vulnerable? How will government operate? What does “community” really mean? What alternatives and options can we develop today to address the unknown post-coronavirus possibilities of 2021 and beyond? And what lessons can we learn today to mitigate the disastrous results of the inevitable next pandemic?

When the pain of the present is greater than the uncertainty of the future AND when a new behavior or opportunity is sufficiently attractive, then change can occur.