Facing what needs to change
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It usually goes something like this
Much of the work we do with clients centres on building a compelling case for change. Whether it's a one-to-one coaching engagement, a workshop, or a larger change programme, clarity about the desired end state is always where we start. From there, we set off, hopeful for a smooth path that is free from unexpected detours.
The hidden wreckage
The challenge is that somewhere along the way, we hit a block. A challenge no-one had foreseen surfaces, or some 'hidden wreckage' emerges that the client hadn't quite wanted to raise. These obstacles are often long-standing. The approach, more often than not, has been to press on and hope it resolves itself or somehow, magically, just disappears.
Being honest
The thing is, that never works. Not in the long term. Ignoring something, even for years, doesn't make it go away. It shows up eventually, one way or another. And this is true whether we're talking about a complex organisational challenge or a smaller project that just can't seem to get off the ground.
So, be honest. With yourself. With each other. With your team. Find a trusted partner to share it with. I'm always up for a coffee.
How this works in practice
Whatever the size of the elephant in the room, this approach works. Small elephants, left long enough, become bigger ones.
Recently, I met with a business contact in the middle of a difficult situation. He was struggling to think his way through it. So I listened and as he talked, wrote each issue on a separate post-it note. We laid them all out on the table and worked through them together. Which is most pressing? Which comes next? A simple approach, but remarkably effective. Getting things out of your head, saying them out loud, then ordering them changes something. It makes the problem manageable.
Bringing it into the open
This way of surfacing challenges is something we use with teams all the time. Quite often, the issues we identify aren't new to people. They've been sitting with them for a while. What shifts is having them reflected back clearly, in a structured way. Suddenly, people can get a grip on things, make a plan, and take action.
Facing it to change it
A while ago we pulled together our favourite quotes about change — and fifth on the list is James Baldwin's: Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced. It's quoted often for good reason. You can't change what you haven't yet accepted is in front of you.
And quite often? It's not as daunting as you feared. Even when it is, looking it square in the face means you can start breaking it down into smaller, more manageable pieces that you can actually do something about.
So: what have you been ignoring or putting off?
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Email: sarah@fairisleprojects.co.uk
