Why tell people you’ve changed?

Johnnie Moore

Johnnie Moore

I’m Johnnie Moore, and I help people work better together

A side note to my last two posts.

A few years ago in response to complete turmoil in my life, I subscribed to boatloads of therapy. This included going on some fairly intense 96 hour retreats which involved a great deal of introspection and challenge. Most people ended those workshops on a high feeling they’d made some useful breakthroughs.

I remember the advice we were given by our hosts. Which was: don’t go back to your families and loved ones yelling about the amazing time you’ve had or how much you’ve changed. Remember that they’ve been leading their own lives too for the last four days. Go back and find out what they’ve been doing… be interested in them.

If you have really changed, they will see that for themselves. There’s no need to tell them.

It strikes me that this would be wise counsel for many corporations that get carried away with their rebrands. If you are really changing, why do you have to tell us about it? Why aren’t you letting us work it out for ourselves?

The answer is usually that advertised change is not real and the announcement itelf is a high risk gamble to try and make something happen.

For me, change is an organic and ongoing process in healthy organisations. No need to brag about it.

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