Change.
It’s a word that sends chills up and down the spine of many teachers. It can take a sunny day and turn it into rain. Many of your people, even if they don’t like what they have don’t want it.
Here are nine facts about change for your consideration as you constantly are leading others through it:
- Our brains are hard-wired against it. The amygdala recognizes change as a threat and does its fight-freeze-flight thing when change is presented. Your body tries to protect you from change. Let that sit for a minute.
- According to a 2019 research study, teachers identified themselves as risk-averse at a higher percentage than most professions.
- Members of a group (like… your faculty!) vary in their reaction to change.
- The more people who are affected by a change, the more time needed to prepare for the change. (like moving the car pickup line needs time and lots of communication since it involves a large number of people.)
- Your teachers are more likely to implement the change effectively if they are involved from the beginning (at the idea phase). Implementers that are involved in the creation are much more effective.
- You don’t need everybody on board to bring about change. Statistically speaking, we have around 16% of a normally distributed group that are against most change. We ALSO have that same percentage of our folks with “factory settings,” ready for the excitement and potential of change. It’s the 68% in between that determine the success of any idea, so the leader who focuses on the willing is more likely to reach success.
- When possible, consider bringing about change in phases. When you are able to start with a “coalition of the willing”, THEY can be a part of influencing others to consider the change.
- Change is more readily launched when your teachers have developed trust in you as the leader and among themselves.
- REAL change takes time.
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