Best and Worst in Us

Change can be and often is a funny thing, particularly in the impact it has on all of us. At least to a certain extent, I believe we are creatures of habit. We like our routine, even if it does not make much sense to any one else. Some prefer sleeping on one side of their bed, others might like sitting at the same desk in a classroom, others might like taking the same route to work every day, and still others might prefer keeping their clothes organized in a specific manner. This routine helps give us a sense of security and continuity. We see it providing our lives with a sense of stability and, perhaps on a deeper level, comfort.

But if those or any other of our routines are changed or disrupted, then depending upon the level and length of change, a new reality can bring out the best and worst in us. Where I work, for instance, the process of selecting a new chief executive officer is currently underway. The current one has held this position for nearly 16 years. He will soon be retiring and that impending change is causing some to behave in negative ways and others in positive ways. Those behaving negatively are becoming territorial and less congenial because of their concern for what a new chief executive might mean to them. Those behaving more admirably are striving to encourage greater cooperation among their fellow colleagues as a way of being better prepared for that change.

With that kind of mixed and diametrically opposite sets of behavior going on, the atmosphere at work is a challenge. The question, then, is: what can be done about it? What measures can be taken to help ease the genuine concerns people are having as they await the arrival of a new chief executive officer and the break from routine that this person brings along? The answer is found in one word: communication. It is in times of impending uncertainty when effective communication shines the most. When change is inevitable or even underway, communication can provide a means by which people can acknowledge their legitimate concerns and reassure them that the change can actually be a great opportunity rather than a a serious threat. Communicators can and should play a key role in this type of situation.