The Only Constant Is Change

By Candace Fisher, SPHR, Director, Organizational Development/Certified Coach
Published December 10, 2024

When my daughter was about three years old, we were debating what to do for Thanksgiving. She chimed in, “We HAVE TO go to Uncle Ricky’s, Mom. It’s tradition!” We’d been to my brother’s the previous year for Thanksgiving, and apparently, she thought that one time had created a tradition. Well, I guess it did, because for the next 20 years, we got very comfortable and spent every Thanksgiving at Uncle Ricky’s – and created a wonderful tradition in our family. But things changed after my brother passed away, and we’ve needed to create different plans for Thanksgiving the past few years. 

I think similar things happen in the workplace. Employees often get comfortable with the routine, i.e., their own “traditions” in the workplace. You may have heard statements like “But we’ve been doing it this way for 20 years!” Many of us are hesitant to change, but the truth is, change is a part of life. “The only constant is change” is a phrase I always thought was something that a modern business leader came up with. I recently learned that it is most often attributed to the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, who said, “Everything changes and nothing remains still; and you cannot step twice into the same stream.” Just like my family had to change our Thanksgiving plans, parents must change their routine when kids leave the nest, and people have to get accustomed to new surroundings when they move to a new home. Things are going to change in the workplace as well.

While change can be stressful, there are steps that leaders can take to help people handle the transition:

• Communicate about the change. Give people time to get used to the idea, ask questions, and prepare. Throughout the process, continue to communicate often.
• Model the change. It’s important to lead by example and demonstrate the change. Leaders need to show others what it means to change.

Change can be difficult for everyone. When workplace changes occur, remember that they’re not easy for those affected. Communicate, communicate, and then communicate some more! Help your employees through the process by supporting them along the way. Contact the Organizational Development team at 800-448-4584 or info@hrsource.org to talk about how we can help your organization handle change.

How do you make it through hard transitions? What is your best advice for handling change? Share your insights with your fellow members in the All Members Community on HR Exchange.