People Love Change (No Really, They Do!)
July 14, 2008 by Phil Gerbyshak
Filed under Business
Occasional Slacker Manager guest author Mike Kanazawa recently published a Change This manifesto called People Don’t Hate Change, They Hate How You’re Trying to Change Them. In the manifesto, Mike dispels some of the more common corporate myths around change. It’s a quick read at only 13 pages, and if you’ve read Mike’s great book Big Ideas to Big Results (or if you want to catch a quick whiff of it before you buy your copy), then download People Don’t Hate Change, They Hate How You’re Trying to Change Them today.
For those who need another reason to download this, here’s what Mike closes with about understanding change:
If you believe that people hate change and that it is your job to change them, they will hate it. If you believe that people thrive on change and that your job is to unleash it, you will tap into a limitless source of ingenuity, energy and drive that will allow you to consistently take your big ideas into big results.
What do you think about change in your organization? Do you believe folks thrive on change or do you think folks are programmed to hate change?
Flickr photo from Phil Gerbyshak’s personal collection
I think that it depends on the generation you’re speaking of. Radio agers (those born before 1946) generally do not like change. They will do it, but you have to break it into manageable steps and let them kick and scream along the way. Generation X’ers (born between 1964 and 1976), on the other hand, thrive on change. Listen to Avenue Q’s finale song “It’s Only for Now” to understand that Gen X’ers expect and welcome change on a daily and monthly basis. If you try to tell a Gen X’er that the company will always be there for them or that it won’t ever change, they’ll laugh in your face. Or possibly roll their eyes.
So it depends on what you grew up with, I think.
I think that age generalizations are offered up because they’re convenient—an easy way to categorize people. But, like most generalizations, I think they are more of a marketers dream and not reality.
I think change is most difficult when it pulls us out of our comfort zone.
There are plenty of Boomers, Gen X’ers and Y’ers who like their comfort zones just the way they are.
I agree with Mike that it’s not change itself, but how it’s done that makes people dig in their heels.
According to a major CEO study by IBM being “hungry for change” is one of the five hallmarks of the “Enterprise of the Future.” Read about it at http://www.leadershipturn.com/leading-factors-the-future-of-business/ and join me for ongoing exploration every Saturday.
Thanks, Phil, for your interst in my work and sharing the ideas here.
I appreciate the comments and perspectives here as well. To add to that conversation, one thing that is universal across generations is that people do their best when their working for a cause, not just a paycheck. They also do their best when they feel like they are having a real impact on the orgnaization, not just grinding out and endless set of tasks. That goes for baby boomers through Gen Y’s….it’s universal. Engaging people actively in meaningful, strategic change pays huge dividends with all generations.
Mike
A change dpends on generation . Today people are living in a world of chnges bt half of the world are not in a good favour of changes . Todays gels n boys love it changes because its from the spirit & souls