Are You Ready for Change

Are You Ready for Change?

by Stacy Hirsch, Associate

Recently, there has been a lot of talk about change. As Kris mentioned in the last newsletter, we are in the business of change. We partner with individuals and organizations to facilitate movement toward a goal or a broader vision. Our clients are often in the midst of change or ready to transform some aspect of their lives or business.

But what does change mean? How do organizations change? How do individuals change? How do we respond when change is inevitable and how do we stay present while change is occurring?

The New Year is a great time to talk about this topic because most people have something in their life they would like to transform or address with new awareness or action. But where do we begin? What does the moment before the moment we take action look and feel like?

My husband and I recently initiated one of the biggest changes two people can experience in life. We brought a child into this world. The impetus to consider a change of this magnitude was fairly clear and not too uncommon. I was of an age where I saw my fertility more as a window rather than an open landscape. Additionally, we had been married for two years so our thoughts naturally flowed toward the topic of children and whether we 'would' or 'would not.'

The decision to have a child was the result of many conversations that took place over time and began even before we were married. The requirement was that we each show up and communicate what was most important to us in life. Our responsibility to ourselves and each other was to listen to a deeper knowing and to allow it to surface and enter the conversation. The moment before the moment we decided to have a child was full of reflection, deep listening, honesty and authenticity. These principles ultimately guided us on our journey and led us into parenthood.

In working with individuals and organizations, the moment before the moment is often a point of friction. Individuals might feel a distance between themselves and a goal and come to us looking for assistance in achieving a vision they have for their lives. The same is true for organizations but with more people involved, more interpretations and perspectives, more relationships to foster, and a need to get people talking and sharing about how best to align with a mission or steer the organization in a given direction.

This friction is sometimes a result of timing or circumstance, as in our case with deciding to have a child. It might also be a moment where you realize you are no longer on the path you set out on and you would like to get back to your original vision. Sometimes it is the acknowledgement that with time and experience the original direction no longer suits you and you need assistance in determining what steps to take next as you navigate new territory.

Six months into our new role as parents, it seems that the decision to have a child was probably the easiest part of the change. Our days are now filled with a thousand small decisions that feel enormous in scale and impact. Each moment is an opportunity to reflect on who we are as parents, as partners and as human beings. The principles that guided my husband and me when we made the decision to have a child now guide us as we experience the many joys and challenges of conscious parenting.

The world is complex and constantly changing. At times this can be both exhilarating and overwhelming. Having a partner to assist in the change process can help facilitate growth, increase the likelihood of achieving a desired outcome and generate possibilities yet to be imagined. This is the business of Krama Consulting and Development.