We’ve all heard the saying that a change is as good as a rest. When we’re coming up to a much-needed holiday it rings so true. Or when we decide to redecorate our home. Those are changes instigated by ourselves and that’s why they are welcome.
The University is embarking on a period of very big change. It will affect all its employees. For those of us who have decided to take voluntary severance and those who end up losing their jobs through redundancy, that change will be greater and, perhaps, more difficult to accept.
Human beings are not hard-wired to be over-brimming with enthusiasm when faced with change. This is especially so when the change feels as if it is being forced on them. Most of us dislike having to make decisions, even if it’s as simple as what we want for dinner tonight.
Charles Darwin said ‘”It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” With this in mind, it’s probably worth considering some of the realities of change and what we can do to help ourselves work through it.
It is generally agreed that coming to an acceptance of change occurs gradually. This is usually referred to as ‘The Change Curve’. There are documented stages that we pass through on our journey through change: Denial; Frustration/Anger; Bargaining; Depression; and finally, Acceptance. If you want to learn more about these follow the links below, particularly the articles by Ben Roberts and Catherine Adenle. It is normal to feel overwhelmed at first but be reassured that you do get past this with time.
Some people are more adept at surfing the waves of change. They are not born this way. Sometimes, life experience gives them an advantage. Some people have learned to develop a resilience to change and other types of life’s challenges; they do this by adapting their behaviours. There is a TED talk below by Jennifer Jones which gently introduces a formula for coping better with change; I recommend it.
Jennifer mentions resilience. You will find more on this on the University’s Health and Wellbeing webpages ; there is even a resilience tool for you to self-assess.
There is lots of support available at the University if you are struggling with the changes associated with Organising for Success. You can turn to your manager or HR. You can self-refer to OH for support. You can access independent support from the University’s Employee Assistance Programme Reach out to your colleagues; talking about living through a mutual experience can feel very affirming.
‘Workplace Change and Transition’, presentation by Catherine Adenle on LinkedIn
‘Six Tips to Cope with Change at Work’ by Anne Miesel on YouTube
‘How Adaptability Will Help You Deal With Change’ by Jennifer Jones, TED talk on YouTube
‘The Five Stages of Redundancy Grief’ by Ben Roberts on workingwell.co.uk
’12 Steps for Dealing with Redundancy’ by Catherine Adenle on catherinescareercorner.com
‘How to Deal with the Emotional Challenges of Retirement’ by Kathleen Coxwell on newretirement.com