Small change: respond, don’t react

Any change process has a nasty habit of throwing up both the unexpected and the unwelcome.

When things get uncomfortable, our reptilian and limbic brains roar into action, prompting us to fly, fight, freeze or fawn. Such reactions are understandable, but rarely helpful. They can undermine our resourcefulness, our ability to remain clear-sighted, and even our standing in the eyes of others.

Better, then, to take five, to let things settle, and to use that space to determine the right response. For example, it’s worth remembering that there is no such thing as an urgent email. In fact, there are very few situations where the ‘overnight test’ can’t be justified.

Something to consider: what prompts might I introduce ‘in the moment’, to help me remember to take five when the going gets tough?

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