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Change our views on change

Change.

Just reading that made some of you cringe, didn’t it?

Change is difficult for many people. There can be many unknowns, depending on the seriousness of the change and how directly it impacts you or the people and community you care about.

It is perceived to be easier to stick with what we already know, even if what we already know isn’t ideal or has room for improvements.

It doesn’t make a lot of sense that the common go-to responses to change are fear, wariness, and to defend the current state, since change is constant and necessary.

Is there a better go-to response option?

Yes.

I’ve long thought that a better way would be that the thing that made people cringe wasn’t change but instead was going too long without change. That we would become fearful of not growing and we would welcome change into our lives so we were more likely to keep moving forward. We would no longer be fearful of what will happen when things change.

The fear of change and the unknowns it causes might be good things in that they lead us to ask questions and learn more, but fear and unknowns also often lead to making judgments and evaluations before we even know the details or the truth about the impending change. We tend to make assumptions about what will happen because of a proposed change. Assumptions that are usually grounded in opinion or unique, one-time, sort-of-related experiences and not grounded in fact. Or assumptions that are based on a story we only heard about but did not experience firsthand.

In volunteering with a service club recently, a group of us are considering and researching new ways to structure membership in the club. Membership had been the same at that club for a very long time — there was basically just one category of membership. The club is talking about adding different kinds of memberships to encourage more people to consider membership, to hold their members accountable, and give grace to members who can’t participate as often as they used to but who had been members for a long time and still wish to support the club.

A recommendation for changes will be presented to the full board of directors and, once approved by the board, will be presented to the current membership.

There will undoubtedly be some members who don’t want anything to change.

The truth is, though, that society has changed and, therefore, the club needs to adjust to those changes and the current needs of members and prospective members. That club is wise for seeking to change their membership structure.

Think about the changes in society since the club was started over 75 years ago. People are busier than ever. When they choose to get involved in a service club, they want it to be meaningful and an effective use of their time. Most want to make a valuable impact, but without having to sit through meetings, as they are more about action.

To make changes to membership to meet those new desires makes sense.

The same goes for changes on other topics. In businesses, families, communities, volunteer organizations, etc. They make sense. As society changes, so should our businesses, organizations, communities, and our lives.

Most changes are good.

Yes, some changes end up having negative impacts, but the good news is change is not a finite resource and we can keep changing so we keep improving and growing.

The next time you hear that something is changing, pause a moment and think about your natural reaction to the news. Are you fearful, defensive, and frustrated, or are you open to the change and can identify the reasons for it? What makes the change necessary in this ever-changing society? What makes the change a good idea?

If we can adjust our common responses of fear and anxiety about change and see the potential good impacts instead of potential negative ones, we can create a more positive life for ourselves and others.

If we create a culture that is supportive of new ideas and changes, and we present a positive attitude about change, we will become a more forward-thinking, growing community.

Jackie Krawczak is president of Jackie Krawczak LLC. Her column runs every three weeks on Thursdays. Follow Jackie on Twitter @jkrawczak.

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