What does it take to change?
Mary-Anne Murphy
What does it take to change?
Change, as we know, is constant.
We might seek it, comply with it, or rebel against it. The truth is, we do all three of these things, depending on the type of change required of us.
A few years ago, as a leader in a busy secondary school, I was approached by an overly enthusiastic salesperson-facilitator trying to get me onboard with the latest IT extravaganza. I was waaaay too busy for that palaver! This PLD (Professional Learning and Development) was for the staff, not me. I thought they’d be better off spending their time with them, rather than trying to convert me (though I phrased it a bit more kindly).
But, like any determined salesperson, they were relentless. Whenever they were on-site, they’d drop in to see how things were going, offering an IT tip or trick here and there—which I duly ignored.
It wasn’t until I was overwhelmed with work, and they happened to call in, that my ears finally pricked. They suggested an easier, quicker, yet still professional way of doing something I had been struggling with. Then, they sat down with me and showed me how it could be done. Trying to play it cool, I thanked them and said I’d think about their offer for further assistance. My ego was at stake, after all! ;-)
Fast forward a year, and there I was, presenting at an international conference on all the wonderful, IT-based strategies I had been using with students and teachers!
AND, I went on to become a national e-learning specialist for a large PLD company! This leopard definitely changed its spots.
So, what does it take to embrace this thing called “Change”?
I reckon change happens on different levels.
The Pyramid of Logical Levels is a model developed by Robert Dilts, a pioneer in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). It illustrates the levels at which we operate.
Affecting change requires us to address the "where" and "when," as well as the "what" and "how" of what we are currently doing. At a deeper, more challenging level, it pushes us to question our "why" and "who."
When we undergo change, we move up and down Dilts’ levels. Deep, sustained change happens at the levels of values, beliefs, and identity.
A key question we can ask ourselves and those we work with is,
“Who will I/you become when I/you emerge from this change?”
Does this fill you with excitement and possibility?
Then let’s go!
Or perhaps it stirs up dread and fear?
If we allow ourselves to break apart and—with support—reassemble piece by piece, we eventually wake up to find we’ve been completely transformed. We are whole again, stronger, but also a new shape or size. Like the grief cycle, deep change requires transformation. And through this transformation, we may no longer fit into our old lives or ways of working.
To move forward, we must let go of the bar we’ve been gripping so tightly, and swim to the other side.
It’s in surrender that we find transformation.
Go beautifully this week.
MA :-)
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