Adapting to Change

Dr Funke Baffourwww.drfunke.co.uk

Outline for session• What is change?

• Why do people avoid change?

• Why can change be difficult?

• Emotional Intelligence (EQ/EI)

• What helps us through change?

• Questionnaire

Open Question:

What is your definition of Change?

What is change?

Any kind of modification or transition that happens in

our life, work or environment.

What is change?

Whenever something happens in

our personal world that is

inconsistent with the way we feel

the world should be.

Why do people avoid change?

Change can cause:• A sense of loss• Fear

Also ...• It requires you to compromise.• It demands of you commitment and effort.• It takes up energy which you would rather not

use.

Why can change be difficult?

1. Our brains expect certain things to stay the same.

2. We seek out People like us to avoid change.

3. We don’t like to feel that we have wasted our Time and Effort.

Our brains expect certain things to stay the same.

• In theory, change should be simple.

• We run into a roadblock, suddenly information we trusted has broken down.

• What we don't know tends to scare us.

• Therefore change creates a lot of things we don't know.

We seek out People like us to avoid change

• New information troubles our

brains.

• We find friends and form

groups that support our beliefs.

• When many people agree it’s

easy to discount the opinions

of others.

• Therefore it is easier to avoid

change .

We don’t like to feel we have wasted our Time and Effort.

• Change can involve a significant loss -our brains dislikes loss.

• When we invest ourselves emotionally in anything -harder to change.

• For e.g. Letting go of a relationship we know deep down will fail.

• Time is never wasted but our brains like to see the entire time as a loss rather than just a part of the inevitable conclusion.

Why can change be difficult?

• Continuum between “positive” and “negative”.

• So not all change can be coded as good or bad.

• Negative changes can yield positive results

• Important factors such as Emotional Intelligence (EQ) need to

be considered.

• EQ determines how a person conceptualises their experience

of change .

Emotional Intelligence

The ability to sense, understand and

effectively apply the power of emotions.

Emotional IntelligenceIQ VS EQ

• With a high IQ

– You get hired

– You get promoted

– You do your daily school routine

• But with a high EQ

– You can thrive during times of CHANGE

What does EQ have to do with change?

• It’s not what happens that matters but how you respond to it.

• EQ gives you the ability to distinguish.• Being aware of your responses means you

can make changes that benefit you.• EQ is your scaffolding that supports your

responses to change.

What helps us through Change?

• Whether it is:– Moving to a new area– Starting university– The death of a relative – Re-sitting your exams – Coming into a new and

unfamiliar environment – Breaking up with your

partner ....

What helps us through Change?

It will involve you:

• Being flexible

• Believing in your self worth

• Having a plan and keeping focussed

• Asking for help

• Having an open mind to face new challenges

What helps us through Change?How to develop your Emotional Intelligence.

1. Reduce stress in the moment.

2. Use emotional awareness to

deal with issues (such as

relationships).

3. Nonverbal communication.

4. Resolve conflict positively.

If you are not riding the wave of change you’ll find yourself beneath it.

A bend in a road is not the end of the road..unless you fail to make the turn.

Thank you

Dr Funke BaffourAdapting to change