What Can Beautiful Fall Teach Us About Change Management?

I just spent a week away from hot and humid Florida in the Great Smoky Mountain area. Some well deserved and urgently needed vacation time with my husband and our pooch Sam. Upon our arrival we were greeted by the most beautiful Fall colors. Fall foliage might just be my favorite thing about Fall. Combined with a usually much colder and fresh air. And I can’t believe it’s me couch potato saying that – hiking. I do love the rewarding feeling of having hiked up a hill and enjoying the reward in form of a stunning view.

We spent our week in a cabin near Bryson City, NC. You can find the cabin here, in case this post gives you wanderlust.

To say I soaked in the colors and the air like an addict on cold turkey might actually be an understatement. Living in Florida is OK, mostly. Not having four seasons (or any seasons), not so much. Even though my husband would agree to disagree on winter. For me pulling out my warm leggings and hoodies and an actual jacket, because it’s cold enough to wear them? Priceless! We even hit freezing temperature, it was awesome.

While we spent the days mostly outdoors hiking and the evenings in our cabin by the fire place, my mind eventually started wondering off. As it likes to do, when I am surrounded either by serenity and peace or “drama”. Yes, my mind is weird like that. And of course, much like life, our week of vacation managed to have both in store for me. Work related “drama” or rather disappointments and annoyances as well as a whole lot of peace and serenity. And beauty. I can’t stress the latter enough.

So, while I was enjoying the Fall colors and scenery around me, I thought to myself how change really is inevitable. Well, I do think some change is utterly unnecessary and done for the wrong reasons, but that is a different story.

However, warm and sunny Fall days to me are the beauty of change on full display. In fact, Fall seems to be the “change management” process of the seasons. Say what? Stay with me on this one people. I think I have a point here (don’t I always think that?).

Instead of throwing us directly from a (more or less) warm, maybe even hot summer into a freezing (again, more or less, depending on location) winter, there is Fall first. A period of transition. Easing us into the change of the seasons. Starting the process of renewal and growth with a mix of beautiful experiences such as Fall foliage on sunny days with a breeze of colder air and the discomfort on stormy days with never ending November rain. A pro-active approach of the seasons, reminding us that the beauty will be back once the change is completed and that, to get there, pain and discomfort are inevitable, too.

During the last week I was reminded of the importance of change management. Done right. To me every change process and transition require a few ingredients to ease people into the change. To meet people where they are at and make sure they can follow the process and actively join. The colleagues we are working with aren’t figures on a chess board after all. And if we don’t want them to act like pawn, we might not want to treat them like it either. It’s really pretty simple.

Before they drop them for their process of renewal, trees are showing us their most beautiful and colorful leaves. They are letting us know, that it is going to be OK. That they will lose their leaves and be bare just until spring, when new leaves will start growing, helping them to stay healthy and continue their growth.

So, when as a company, department, team, leader etc. we are planning to drive change, we could try to do something, to make sure all colleagues are aware this is for growth and development and it is going to be OK.

If that is actually the case. If the change has questionable motives, this might not be possible. And it might also not be the right thing to do.

Inspired by my Fall vacation, I would like to share my personal “must-haves” to manage change:

• Make sure we understand the actual impact and know who are the impacted parties (all of them)
• Respect EVERYONE impacted and avoid top-down communication like “it is what it is” etc. (no one needs us to state the obvious)
• CARE for the thoughts and feelings of those impacted and address them instead of ignoring them
• Always have a pro-active communication approach
• Be as transparent as we possibly can, people’s minds can go crazy places if we are secretive
• Remember to do check-ins and clarifications to avoid misunderstandings or interpretations

Sometimes leaders seem to overlook that, what they are considering a small change, can have a huge impact on others. Or at least it can be perceived as such. And honestly some just don’t seem to care about anything but their goal.

I consider myself a caring people leader (blog post about my thoughts on leadership styles here) and as such I personally think, it is my job to make sure I care for my colleagues. I have to ensure they understand what is happening.

Much like as Fall is making sure we are aware that winter is around the corner and we have to get ready for that cold and rough season, I need to make sure I give my team the same courtesy.

Why? Because it will allow them to be ready to weather the upcoming change. And as someone who is thinking entrepreneurial as well, I really want them to be ready, committed and supportive. Ideally even get excited and enjoy the change and growth. Ideally.

Of course we can’t get everyone on board with everything. It is worth a try though. Much like winter, change in some cases is coming, no matter what. The choice we have as leaders is to make people feel ready and prepared or left alone in the freezing cold.

A great vacation and an equally great lesson taught to me by nature. I had to share!

If you are about to enter the winter season – enjoy! Remember, spring with it’s growth and beauty is just around the corner. For those of us living in Florida – let’s enjoy the few cold fronts we are going to get and make the best of it, shall we?

Now please excuse me .I will enjoy my memories of a lovely Fall vacation for a bit longer. Tomorrow it’s back to work.

Be well & take care

Nannette