Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
A couple of weeks ago, I published an article a couple of latest CEO that fired a long-term worker. Should you haven’t read it, I hope you’ll test it out. Since then, I’ve seen people posting stories about something frustrating or disappointing that’s happened to them. Obviously, like the one who was fired by surprise, they’re attempting to determine find out how to take care of it and move on.
Change is difficult. Even once we’re coping with changes that we wish, change might be hard. Especially step one of recognizing the necessity for change. Whether it’s on the lookout for a brand new opportunity or adopting a brand new habit, taking that first step might be daunting.
I don’t know if this might be helpful, but I desired to share something that I do when I actually have to take care of a difficulty. It is perhaps some disappointing or bad news. Or perhaps it’s once I realize that I may need to make a change. Unless I absolutely must respond immediately, I give myself 24-hours to process what’s happening. I prefer to call it my “24-hour funk”. Then I promise myself that I’ll move on, whatever “moving on” looks like.
For reference, the Cambridge Dictionary defines “being in a funk” as being unhappy. So, to me, I allow myself to be unhappy, mad, frustrated, whatever after which I move on. Being in a funk doesn’t mean I can take my feelings out on others. It just implies that I’m allowed to not be joyful about whatever happened.
I used to work for a corporation that used this philosophy. When it delivered bad or unexpected news, they allowed employees to be in a 24-hour funk about it. Actually, it got to be kinda funny at times. An worker might say, “I’m 19 hours into my 24-hour funk. Come back and ask me tomorrow.” Everyone would laugh and it could get handled the subsequent day. Again, let me repeat that being in a funk didn’t include being mean or disrespectful. It was about having the ability to express dissatisfaction or disappointment.
I used to be reminded of the 24-hour funk recently with something kinda silly – Pokémon Go. The developers who make the Pokémon Go app made changes to the sport. One in all the changes impacted the way in which your avatar looked. My initial response was fury! I used to be livid at how my avatar looked. I used to be totally able to delete the sport. Then I calmed myself down and said, “give it a day”. After my 24-hour funk was over, I made some changes to my avatar and it’s far more tolerable. I’m still not thrilled but I didn’t delete the sport and I’m still having fun. Oh, and I made myself a promise not to purchase any more in-game clothes for my avatar until it’s fixed to my satisfaction.
That’s the second a part of the 24-hour funk – moving on. Take into consideration what that appears like for you, including the opportunity of making a short lived decision until you may have more information. Like my Pokémon scenario, perhaps you should make a short-term decision and provides it more time before making a long-term decision.
The explanation I desired to mention my 24-hour funk story is since it’s necessary to offer ourselves time to process all of the stuff that we’re expected to administer. Especially if we’re being asked to vary. It’s okay to offer yourself a while to process before acting. Actually, it’s beneficial.
Remember Lewin’s change model? It has three steps: Unfreeze, Change, Refreeze. To me, that first step – unfreeze – is difficult. We’re letting go of something. It is perhaps a policy or procedure that we knew find out how to do without hesitation. Or making the choice to depart our employer or team. Or perhaps not doing business with an organization any longer. Take time to reflect and process what’s happening before “unfreezing”. It could make the change process easier.
Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring the streets of San Francisco, CA
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