1. Managing Change or

2. Surviving Change

3. William Bridges’ Model (mostly)
Managing Transitions:
Making the Most of Change
William Bridges and Associates, Inc.
DaCapo Press, 2003
(Addison Wesley, 1991)

4. Three Phases of Change Ending - letting go
Transition - the neutral zone
Beginning - making the change work

5. Bridges says:
The change will happen. It’s the transition that we have to manage - helping people (or ourselves) through the three phases.

6. And transition is personal
Even at work, transition is personal
Whether you are leading change
Whether you are supporting change
Whether change is “happening to you”

7. Getting from here to there
Uncharted territories
Going where no one has gone before
Those dark and scary places
“Make it so.”
John-Luc Picard
Star Trek - The Next Generation

8. Is there a significant change happening in your life right now?
At home?
At work?
In other parts of your life?

9. How are you reacting to it?
Are you “in charge”?
Are you orderly?
Are you worried?
Are you excited?
Are you down?
Some combination of stuff?

10. Endings - one view of the status quo
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
We’ve always done it this way.
Leave well enough alone.

11. Endings - another view Boring! Time for a change!
We’ve been needing some excitement around here.
We need to step outside of the box.
We really can do this better.
Let’s get on with it!!

12. Endings may be about grieving
Anger
Bargaining
Anxiety
Sadness
Disorientation
Depression
And this goes home with all of us.

13. But, let’s get on with it!! Identify what we are losing
Expect and accept the grieving
Treat the past with respect
Provide information and more information and more information
Involve folks in the planning process
Don’t drag this on. Get on with it!

14. Some endings Death of a loved one Leaving a job Graduating from school
Separating from a loved one
Child leaving home

15. Endings at work Shutting down the main frame
Being transferred to a different unit
Having a co-worker leave
Having your boss leave
Outsourcing a function
Just moving to another building
Being dismissed
For some of us, retiring (finally)

16. And for most of us It’s scary!!.
“Life is always either a tight-rope or a feather bed. Give me the tight-rope”.
Edith Wharton

17. Your ending
Tight rope or feather bed??
Why?

18. Transition

19. Andre Gide
“One doesn’t discover new land without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time”.

20. Marilyn Ferguson
“It’s not so much that we are afraid of change or so in love with the old ways, but it’s the place in between that we fear…. It’s Linus when his blanket is in the dryer. There is nothing to hold on to”.

21. Transition - Uncharted Territory
Where the ghosts and goblins are
Works for the adventurers
Harder for the stay-at-homes
Anxiety, blame, depression strike
Illness strikes

22. Ambiguity increases
Folks want answers
At work, we have to keep doing the old while planning for and implementing the new
We are tired
Managers are mistrusted, second-guessed

23. But - this is the neutral zone
Break-through ideas arise
Break-through solutions are found
The box is gone so thinking can be more creative

24. Obstacles in transition
It takes longer than we expect
Exaggerated expectations exist
Skeptics are loud
Procrastination is a problem
Need for perfection can set in

25. Making transition easier
Talk about the vision
Set short term goals and measure progress in completing the goals
Recognize out loud that this is hard and scary
Begin definition of new roles

26. Listen to folks with new ideas
Listen to the skeptics and the critics
Listen to the fears (including your own)
Modify transition plans as learning occurs
Encourage risk taking
Encourage creativity and innovation

27. Encourage progress, not perfection
Don’t blame, don’t defend
Tell the truth!!

28. Learning in transition
Action - reflection - action
Reflection
Context - what happened?
Process - how did it happen, what was the method used?
Beliefs and assumptions - what was I thinking?

29. Organizational Learning
Collective Action --- Results
Collective Reflection --- Knowledge
And the next action. No wars between thinking and doing.

30. Jobs for the leaders Communicate, communicate, communicate.
Tell the truth. Don’t withhold information.
Listen
Check your understanding. Ask questions.
Check out your assumptions. Change them when they are wrong.

31. Transitions you have known
Losing site of the shore
How do you find your way?
How do you help others find their way?

32. Beginnings Messy Fragile A gamble Not synchronous for everyone
Anxiety producing
And a time for celebration

33. As a leader, your work is not done
Some folks are settling in the new place
Some folks have yet to let go of the old
And some are still in the water looking for the new shore

34. Regardless - you need to celebrate!!
Recognize that goals have been achieved.
Recognize all the good work that has been done.
Stop for a bit, smell the flowers.
Invite your co-workers to do the same.
Have a party!!

35. Become clear about: Roles and responsibilities for work to be done
Standards and procedures
Work flow
Ongoing goals and expectations

36. But: Don’t become complacent
Keep in mind that our organizations are learning organizations
Be ready for the next change, but take a break first
Think mandela!!

37. Putting it all together
In your work place, what is the big change right now?
Where is your organization in the change process - ending, transition, beginning?
What is your role in this change process?
What can you do for yourself to make the transition more successful?
What can you do for those around you to support a successful transition and a new beginning?

38. Primary References
Bridges, William. Managing Transition: Making the Most of Change, DaCapo, 2003
Geisel, Theodor Seuss. Oh, the Places You’ll Go!!, Random House, 1990
Schutz, Will. The Human Element: Productivity, Self Esteem and the Bottom Line, Jossey-Bass, 1994
Senge, Peter. The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization, Doubleday and Co., 1994