With Labor Day in the rear-view mirror Fall is right around the corner and I couldn’t be more excited. I love Thanksgiving! Not such a shocking stand to take, I know, but I do love it. I have been hosting Thanksgiving Day at my house for years, I love having my family and friends over to enjoy the day and all the traditions that come with it. Turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, and of course football!
One of the things I have learned is that trying to change up the traditional Thanksgiving meal is not always welcomed with open arms. People say they like to try new dishes but when it comes to Thanksgiving everyone has their favorite and it is just not Thanksgiving unless they get it. Whether it is the roasted turkey or the sweet potato casserole or Grandma’s famous rolls, there will be family pouting if their favorite dish doesn’t make it to the table. And since everyone has a different favorite dish it makes for a full table! I often wonder if this is the real reason the original Thanksgiving dinner became such a feast.
I have discovered change in a company or an organization is not much different. Everyone has their favorite thing or way of doing it and heaven forbid you change it up. We will hear shouts of “But that’s the way we have always done it.” And is that much different than the cries of “what happened to the sweet potato casserole??” To help navigate change more effectively within our organizations and in our lives, it helps to follow 3 simple principles.
First, swap it out slowly. Instead of a total revamp make small steps incrementally. Add a new dish or adjust the recipe of a traditional dish. Add the sausage to the stuffing or put a crunch on the sweet potatoes instead of marshmallows, it’s the same dish with minor changes. All change does not have to be big and dramatic.
Second, remember change is not final. In life, change is not something to “get through” in fact, you will never get through it. Change is constant. So, allow yourself to make mistakes and change it up along the way. Maybe you try something and it doesn’t quite work as planned, that’s OK. We can go back and re-evaluate and try something else. Change is not final. Maybe that cranberry marshmallow Jell-O Mold wasn’t such a good idea after all?
Third, let people have some input. It is pretty-common knowledge, that people do not mind change nearly as much when they believe they have a hand in it. Ask others for ideas and suggestions. Prep them about the change ahead of time, always using a positive tone and language of course! And then get their help in implementing it. This is one of my favorite techniques for managing change in a team. So often, managers make the mistake of dictating to people what the change is going to be without giving any opportunity for feedback, concerns, or input. Remember, when people have a hand in it they like it much better. Give them a voice.
If you look for ways to embrace these simple ideas I promise you will have a stronger team and even a happier Thanksgiving! As my Mom would say-- Happy Turkey Day!
