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The 4 Stages of Change

The change process has stages just like many other phases of life. It is important to help people understand the normal process of change so that they do not think they are having a harder time than others. By identifying normal reactions, it makes the process the focus, not the individual.

Stage One: Denial

This is a time when we reflect on the "good old days." We can't imagine changes happening in our workplace; we may feel numb. Many will try to function as though everything is normal. Was may minimize the changes, rationalize what is happening and/or refuse to hear new information.

Stage Two: Resistance

When things are uncomfortable, it is normal to resist the changes that we do not like or understand. This may result in feelings of anger, hurt, and loss. We may blame others, complain a lot, get sick, and/or we may start to doubt our ability.

Stage Three: Exploration

As we let go of the past, we begin to open ourselves up to the future and all of its possibilities. During this stage, we allow ourselves to see possibilities. We may feel indecisive, have a lot of energy, begin to clarify our goals, see that there are resources available to us, explore alternatives, learn new skills, or even feel a sense of chaos.

Stage Four: Commitment

As with any stage in life, when we are ready to make a commitment, our focus changes. We are more sure of where we are going and may even see a vision. Our focus is clearer. We are ready to cooperate more as a team. And finally, we are feeling a greater sense of balance.

As we go through these stages, it is important to understand a few things:

We may skip around in the stages instead of going from one to two, etc.
Everyone will have a different way of going through the stages.
We have to be careful not to get stuck at any one level of the process.
It is all right to have strong feelings throughout the process as long as you don't take those feelings out on someone else.

Something to think about...

Think about how you handle changes in your life both at work and at home, and finish these thoughts:

The scariest part of change is...

Every winning team needs...

A rewarding job is one that...

I have always thought it would be a good idea to...

I think I can offer...

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