The goal of managing through change is to move from a current state to a future state with the least amount of resistance. Sometimes a change happens with ease and other times it is incredibly difficult. Imagine change management as positioning yourself on one side of a deep canyon, which is your current state, with the goal to navigate to the other side, which is your future state. There are three options presented to you to get to the other side. The first is to take a car and drive across the canyon bridge; which is a pretty painless route to the other side. The second is to take the canyon foot bridge which requires a little more time and planning. While this bridge is safe, it sways a little from time to time, and it does sag into the canyon. It certainly takes additional effort to navigate this option. The third option is to bypass the two bridges and take the long strenuous hike down and back up the canyon to the other side. This route requires significant planning, energy, and takes a lot of time to complete. Which option would you take?
Any route you choose has its strengths and potential weaknesses. From the example, with option 1 it is the quickest route to the other side, but you may skip a few critical steps because of your focus on speed. With option 2, it may be perceived as safe, but it does carry some risk that you may not be willing to take. With option 3, even though it is pretty thorough, it does take a lot of time which you may not have. When navigating change it is important to understand your goal, explore a few options to achieve it, and know that each option has its strengths and weakness. With any change, there is no perfect option to the other side. The best option is the one you choose knowing that you are putting your best foot forward.
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