Changing Behaviours
The last six months have been a rocky ride to say the least. We’ve experienced changes we’d never in our wildest dreams have imagined – complete 180 degree previously unthinkable behaviour shifts.
- Big saving on takeaway lunches and spending on handgel – ‘what no daily Pret!’
- A more civilised start to the day instead of a hurried morning commute
- Working from home, previously not even a thought, now something many want to continue to some degree
The change cycle
For obvious reasons, many of the changes in recent months were enforced with us being passive recipients. The Change Cycle by Salerno and Brock can be helpful in outlining six stages of change:
- Loss
- Doubt
- Discomfort
- Discovery
- Understanding
- Integration
Whilst some people settled easily into working from home, for others it was a more difficult and uncomfortable transition. Fast forward a few months and many have now moved past the stage of discomfort to discover unexpected benefits from their new situation.
Many drag our heels when change is forced on us whereas some embrace it with open arms leapfrogging to the Discovery Stage in search of benefits. On reflection, haven’t the recent months thrown up some opportunities too? Many of the changes especial in the digital area were on their way and have just come much sooner.
What about you?
What about on a more personal level?
- Is this really a chance for you to make change?
- What changes have come out of the last few months that you would like to continue?
- Or perhaps now is the time for making a long desired change – changing career to follow your passion, writing a book or overcoming your fear of public speaking.
- Smaller changes can be just as impactful – if not more. Deciding to call your elderly mother at least twice a week or implementing the Pomodoro Technique of 25 mins work and 5 mins movement break in your working day. Smaller changes are often easier to make, which encourages us to make further change.
‘The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new’
With over 15 years of helping people to make their desired changes in the area of career/purpose and wellbeing, if you’d like help with clarity, support and accountability, to see through your desired change rather than stay stuck in doubt or discomfort, get in touch here.
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Is it time for change? Read my previous blog post on purpose.
Photo courtesy of Photo by Alexas Fotos from Pexels
