The Brain on Change: A Simple Mental Model

Let me start by first acknowledging the obvious: the pace of change in today’s working environments is ridiculously fast. Losing focus for just a moment can mean the difference between achieving positive results or falling hopelessly behind. Now, let me share an insight that is just as factual, though likely less evident: the pace of change will never be slower than it is right now. 

Regardless of industry, function, organizational culture, or clientele, today’s leaders are faced with tackling new and unprecedented challenges at break-neck speeds. As the professional environments we navigate continue to evolve quickly, successfully engaging with change will mean the difference between success and failure. 

Having a better understanding of how our brains process change gives us a heightened sense of awareness, ultimately resulting in a far greater appreciation for the changes happening all around us. While the topic of change is vast, I’d like to offer a simple mental model that can be used to navigate change. 

When we first encounter change, no matter how big or small, we have a natural tendency to react with some degree of anxiety and/or skepticism. In some cases, we may even struggle with denial. This first stage of reaction is that of nervousness. Trigger the nail-biting. 

As it becomes more and more evident that this change isn’t going away, our “brains on change” shift into the second stage: FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt). A frightening undercurrent is also taking place in this stage; beneath the surface, we are beginning to question our competence, confidence, and morale. The traits and skills we’d mastered prior to this change are seemingly in jeopardy as we realize what’s happening around us. This is not fun.

Thankfully, all is not lost. As we wade through the FUD waters, something interesting is taking place. Time passes, we invest our energy in this change, and our “brains on change” evolve into the third stage: that of curiosity, exploration, and acceptance. We are realizing that this change is not only necessary, but critical to our ongoing development. We can do this!

Eventually, our “brains on change” land in the calmer waters of the fourth and final stage. We find ourselves excited by our new-found knowledge. We are committed to embracing the change and we’re well on our way to thriving in our new normal. As a result of our investment of energy in this change, another beautiful thing has happened. Where we were recently worried about our confidence, competence, and morale, we’re now advancing towards mastery of our new skills and traits. We made it!

At Spiirall, we embrace change as a necessary tool in the development of ourselves, our teams, and our client firms. When our clients’ brains are on change, we are right there with you, helping to navigate your nervousness, fears, curiosity, and excitement. 

If you’d like to learn more about how we’re helping our clients thrive with their learning and development journeys, we’d love to hear from you. Remember – change is a catalyst for growth and without it, we’re hopelessly falling behind.