{"id":5692,"date":"2025-10-21T20:08:24","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T19:08:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/co-creation.group\/?p=5692"},"modified":"2025-10-21T20:08:27","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T19:08:27","slug":"from-fear-to-focus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/co-creation.group\/from-fear-to-focus\/","title":{"rendered":"From Fear To Focus: Building Change Resilience at Work"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.25.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;15px|||||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_width_bottom=&#8221;1px&#8221; border_color_bottom=&#8221;#097BD8&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.25.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Opening Reflection: Change as a Constant&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_2_font=&#8221;||||||||&#8221; header_2_font_size=&#8221;24px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_style_all=&#8221;double&#8221; border_color_bottom=&#8221;#B3BBC8&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h2>Opening Reflection: Change as a Constant<\/h2>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;As a person who has experienced a lot of change in their life, I like to think I\u2019m pretty adaptable and open-minded when it comes to change.&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_2_font=&#8221;||||||||&#8221; header_2_font_size=&#8221;24px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||10px||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_style_all=&#8221;double&#8221; border_width_bottom=&#8221;6px&#8221; border_color_bottom=&#8221;#B3BBC8&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p>As a person who has experienced a lot of change in their life, I like to think I\u2019m pretty adaptable and open-minded when it comes to change. Experiencing multiple countries, multiple schools, multiple houses, I definitely got used to having to work things out quickly in new environments and cultures.<\/p>\n<p>But we can all get initially floored by change \u2014 it\u2019s what we do next that matters.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Do we notice what thoughts are racing around our mind?<\/li>\n<li>Do we notice what feelings have been triggered in our body?<\/li>\n<li>To what extent do we actively choose our next reaction?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;The Brain\u2019s Response to Change&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_2_font=&#8221;||||||||&#8221; header_2_font_size=&#8221;24px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||10px||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_style_all=&#8221;double&#8221; border_width_bottom=&#8221;6px&#8221; border_color_bottom=&#8221;#B3BBC8&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3>The Brain\u2019s Response to Change<\/h3>\n<p>You are probably aware that our brains like to simplify things. They require a lot of energy and therefore look for patterns and familiarities to work out how much attention is needed from our conscious cognitive thinking, and what can be automated.<\/p>\n<p>New school? I\u2019ve got this; less conscious are the habits around getting up, getting dressed, going to school and an expectation around being in a classroom and learning.<\/p>\n<p>More conscious are the thoughts and feelings around being in a new building, meeting people I don\u2019t know yet, the nervousness and anxiety that brings. As a child, given a choice, I most likely would not have wanted to move country\/house\/school; however, as in life, you get what you\u2019re given sometimes, and so it was about making the best of the situation.<\/p>\n<p>For me, noticing who was standing to one side, not part of a \u2018gang\u2019, made them more approachable, and going up and talking to them helped me connect and start to settle in, because I knew that once I felt less isolated, the place would feel a bit less strange and scary (thanks, @Liz Dawson!).<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/AnLqA8Q9ANI?si=TcmLy8YrSfQ19kV1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Our brain initially reacts negatively to change<\/a><\/strong><\/span>. Noticing what we think and feel and making a choice about how we then behave can be really helpful in response to change, particularly where we have little or no choice. It gives us a sense of ownership as we are owning our actions and as such, taking control over what we can.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Understanding Organisational Change&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_2_font=&#8221;||||||||&#8221; header_2_font_size=&#8221;24px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||10px||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_style_all=&#8221;double&#8221; border_width_bottom=&#8221;6px&#8221; border_color_bottom=&#8221;#B3BBC8&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3>Understanding Organisational Change<\/h3>\n<p>In organisations, many things happen that are out of our control. They may have been someone else\u2019s decision, or it may be outside influences and pressures. These are the hardest changes as we can also sometimes not understand these either. When we don\u2019t understand why there is a change, it\u2019s very hard for us to buy in; although we may follow orders if that\u2019s what we have to do, and it\u2019s important to our job to follow, e.g. new policies, procedures, and technology introductions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>If leaders and managers seek to understand the purpose of new changes and communicate this clearly and early, that makes a big difference.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Secondly, where can individuals take some ownership over their actions? What space is there in the change for personal choice? Small things can make a big difference.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Finding Ownership in Change&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_2_font=&#8221;||||||||&#8221; header_2_font_size=&#8221;24px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||10px||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_style_all=&#8221;double&#8221; border_width_bottom=&#8221;6px&#8221; border_color_bottom=&#8221;#B3BBC8&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3>Finding Ownership in Change<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Have you been allocated a new manager?<\/li>\n<li>Can you choose when, where and how you meet your new manager, and what questions you can bring to your first meeting?<\/li>\n<li>Are you offered information in advance around the reasons behind the restructure and a bio around your new manager before you meet them so you can understand and prepare what questions you might have about them?<\/li>\n<li>If your role responsibilities are changing as part of this restructure, has that been communicated to you in a way that makes sense to your day-to-day activities?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Why Change Feels Threatening&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_2_font=&#8221;||||||||&#8221; header_2_font_size=&#8221;24px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||10px||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_style_all=&#8221;double&#8221; border_width_bottom=&#8221;6px&#8221; border_color_bottom=&#8221;#B3BBC8&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3>Why Change Feels Threatening<\/h3>\n<p>What we are trying to do is reduce the fear and unknown in change, because it is this that triggers our automatic defence mechanisms. When our brain does not recognise something and cannot easily pattern match, then that information and situation is automatically flagged as a danger to our survival. Plus, there is little difference in the brain around physical versus social survival, so it treats threats as risks.<\/p>\n<p>Therefore, if we think about the context that due to a restructure I\u2019ve got a new manager, the team is expanding, we work a mix of home and office-based and I\u2019ve got some new colleagues; my job title is changing in the restructure but the job looks much the same as it did before, now with some extra responsibilities, I think \u2014 there is much here to fear.<\/p>\n<p>My first, and natural, reaction is fear. Fear of the unknown, of the unfamiliarity. It takes us a moment to choose our next reaction:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">Do I step into that feeling of fear and become anxious, worried?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">Or do I tell myself I\u2019m having a natural reaction because I am only scared of what I don\u2019t know yet, and soon I will know more, and then it is likely to be better?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">Do I stress at home and wallow in my anxiety, or do I take action to find out more information and meet these new people?<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Building Self-Awareness and Resilience&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_2_font=&#8221;||||||||&#8221; header_2_font_size=&#8221;24px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||10px||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_style_all=&#8221;double&#8221; border_width_bottom=&#8221;6px&#8221; border_color_bottom=&#8221;#B3BBC8&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3>Building Self-Awareness and Resilience<\/h3>\n<p>We can all take responsibility for building our self-awareness for what is going on for us, what might be happening, why different feelings might be arising for us and taking action to positively help ourselves.<\/p>\n<p>Ask yourself:<\/p>\n<p>When faced with an unknown, do you give yourself a moment to take stock and spot what feelings and thoughts have been triggered? Do you think about what you do next to help yourself?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Leaders who practise this self-awareness model it for their teams \u2014 helping others navigate uncertainty more confidently.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;What Leaders Can Do&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_2_font=&#8221;||||||||&#8221; header_2_font_size=&#8221;24px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||10px||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_style_all=&#8221;double&#8221; border_width_bottom=&#8221;6px&#8221; border_color_bottom=&#8221;#B3BBC8&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3>What Leaders Can Do<\/h3>\n<p>Organisations can significantly help and support people with change by equipping managers and leaders to have an awareness and understanding around how we react to change, to ask questions and really listen to what people are experiencing, and to use coaching questions to help them work out their best next steps.<\/p>\n<p>In doing so, they are building change resilience in themselves and their teams.<\/p>\n<p>If you are a manager or leader, ask yourself:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">When was the last time you asked someone, in a private space where they can\u2019t be overheard, \u201cHow are you doing; what are you thinking or feeling about what is going on for you right now?\u201d and used the powerful tool of silence and undivided attention to listen and not interrupt?<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;From Reflection to Action&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_2_font=&#8221;||||||||&#8221; header_2_font_size=&#8221;24px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||10px||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_style_all=&#8221;double&#8221; border_width_bottom=&#8221;6px&#8221; border_color_bottom=&#8221;#B3BBC8&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3>From Reflection to Action<\/h3>\n<p>I\u2019d invite you to take a moment to reflect and take stock, and consider how you could increase the number of times you check in with yourself and with others, particularly if you are in a very changeable workplace.<\/p>\n<p><strong>If you would like to find out more about how we, at Co-Creation, equip managers and leaders with the tools and techniques to manage change successfully, then please <a href=\"https:\/\/co-creation.group\/event\/rethinking-change-leadership\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">join our interactive session <em>Rethinking Change Leadership<\/em> on 13 November<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s an opportunity to explore practical, evidence-based ways to strengthen change resilience across your organisation \u2014 and to connect with peers who are leading change in complex environments.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;References:&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_2_font=&#8221;||||||||&#8221; header_2_font_size=&#8221;24px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||10px||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_style_all=&#8221;double&#8221; border_width_bottom=&#8221;0px&#8221; border_color_bottom=&#8221;#B3BBC8&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3>References:<\/h3>\n<p>Hilary Scarlett (2019) Neuroscience for Organizational Change. Kogan Page.<\/p>\n<p>David Rock (2013) Your Brain at Work. Harper Collins Publications.<\/p>\n<p>Nancy Kline (2020) The Promise that Changes Everything. Penguin Random House UK.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;4px|auto||auto||&#8221; border_color_bottom=&#8221;#097BD8&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/co-creation.group\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/RS-Blog-Oct-2025-scaled.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;Gift of coaching blog SEPT&#8221; title_text=&#8221;RS Blog Oct 2025&#8243; align=&#8221;center&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Opening Reflection: Change as a ConstantAs a person who has experienced a lot of change in their life, I like to think I\u2019m pretty adaptable and open-minded when it comes [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":5693,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[14,68],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5692","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-insights"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/co-creation.group\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5692","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/co-creation.group\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/co-creation.group\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/co-creation.group\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/co-creation.group\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5692"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/co-creation.group\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5692\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5698,"href":"https:\/\/co-creation.group\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5692\/revisions\/5698"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/co-creation.group\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5693"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/co-creation.group\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5692"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/co-creation.group\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5692"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/co-creation.group\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5692"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}