Supporting you and your team's wellbeing through change

The change curve helps you to understand the theory behind the various stages of change, from anxiety through to fear and forward to gradual acceptance. It is important to note this is not a linear process. Things may happen or be heard/said, that can cause you and individuals in your team, to go back a stage or two, whilst they process change and come to terms with it. 

The change curve (emotional response to change):

1. Anxiety: Surprise or shock at the event
2. Denial: Disbelief. Looking for evidence that isn't there
3. Frustration: Recognition that things are different. Sometimes angry
4. Depression: Low mood, lacking in energy
5. Experiment: Initial engagement with the new situation
6. Decision: Learning how to work in the new situation. Feeling more positive
7. Integration: Changes integrated; a renewed individual

So, consider where you are currently. Can you gauge where your team members/colleagues are? How will this help you in preparing for conversations/framing discussions to support them?

Helpful tips:

1. Acknowledge what is being left behind and make the ending
2. Keep communicating about what is changing and why 
3. Maintain two-way information flows, to keep connected with what’s going on and how people are really feeling 
4. Set short range goals and checkpoints, but allow for flexibility 
5. Help people identify the part they will play in this new world