"Surviving & Thriving on Change" This one day workshop will give you an unfair advantage .. whether you are LEADING change, or having change THRUST UPON YOU! "Change Management is NOT Rocket Science!" But change management skills are essential for surviving the rest of your life, cos change is not about to slow down! Hilary is probably Australia's leading exponent on managing the people-aspects of change. She has been assisting organisations and individuals with change for over two decades. She is at the forefront of understanding how you can make the best of change, and how you can assist those around you, whether they are staff, colleagues, family or friends. For more information, see www.hilary.com.au When: November 23,
2007 See Comments from Past Participants at the end of this Newsletter. For further view
Workshop
Flyer Email: suzy@hilary.com.au
Understanding The Personal Side of Change "So
you'd better start swimming, or you'll sink like a stone, Many of us look back to a time when life seemed easier, slower, safer, more comfortable, more predictable, more stable .. But was it ever really like that? If I put you into a time machine, and took you back to that "easier" time, I suspect you would be frustrated with other things. And maybe, you'd be thinking an even earlier time was the "golden age"? "Nostalgia
is a strong wine. A little is warm and comforting. We can be seduced into yearning for the "good ol' days". However, we ALL have amazing abilities for coping with change. Just try listing the number of changes in your household (and life) over the past few years! But our comfort levels with change usually depend on whether we chose the change, or whether it was imposed on us. "People don't resist change. They resist BEING changed." And "Here's the rub"! Most organizational changes are imposed on us. We don't choose these changes, yet we are expected to comply. We are "being" changed, rather than "choosing" to change. Leaders often overlook the fact that people are not " blank slates" when they come to work. Outside of work, many other changes are likely to be happening! I often ask people to list their current life changes, and I am amazed by the sheer number of major issues people are coping with, both inside and outside of work! If I think over my last ten years, it has been a roller-coasted ride specially if I consider BOTH my work and personal life. We sold the family home as soon as the kids left home, before they could move back! We moved into the bush. We were just recovering from all the challenges associated with the move, when my Mum suffered a severe stroke. This meant weekly trips to Brisbane (on top of a full consulting load travelling throughout Australia.) At last a new stability was developing, when the unbelievable happened! On a beautiful, crisp, sunny Autumn day, my husband and I were out walking. I stopped to talk with a neighbour. When I caught up to him, 5 minutes later, he was on the ground, dead. There had been no warning. And so started the worst year of my life. But life doesn't stop. And I had a choice. I could feel miserable, give up, despair, blame the Universe, and decide my life was over. In fact many well-meaning people told me my life WAS over, and I would never recover! My other option was to grieve, and then get back into work and life. This was a difficult option. There were many people who supported me. Yet others of my friends seemed to have an investment in my remaining "the grieving widow" some actively resisted my attempts to move on. Change is like this!
There are forces within us that can hold us back: There may also be
forces outside us, wanting to hold us back: And there are many, many other versions of these internal and external pushes and pulls. The pressures are strong demanding. We
can be made to feel disloyal to our family, Yet, I believe we only get one chance at life. (I don't believe in reincarnation!) I was determined to keep making the most of each minute. I couldn't stop, and waste my life! And, somehow, in my darkest days, clarity started to emerge. Change puts life into perspective. What is REALLY important? My late husband had died on the day the USA started bombing Iraq. Day after day on the TV, I saw people being killed and wounded. Despite my sorrow, I was waking in a beautiful country, with love and support around me. And I was safe. I also had plentiful food in my mouth, warm clothes to wear, and a job that I enjoyed. Yes! I was terribly sad. But there was still so much to live for. With change, we learn When we are open to the possibilities! As
I look back at this time, I have learned so much from this saddest of
times. It was rich with possibilities to expand my repertoire and grow,
personally and professionally! I now know, without any doubt: "The
good Lord doesn't give us more than we can cope with. It's 4 ½ years since that fateful day when Ian died. 1½ years ago it became clear that I should move back to Brisbane. Life had moved on with Ian's passing. New decisions had to be made that matched my changed life's circumstances. I have re-established friendship networks, become a Grandmother, found a new life partner, and purchased a new office since my return to Brisbane. I am asked why I don't retire. My response, "Why? I am having way too much fun!" I am very busy, doing work I enjoy, which people seem to really value . And life is great again! So many changes! So much to contend with! But, this is the human condition. We are ALL amazingly resilient. We DO cope. Life really IS a journey. And none of us escapes totally unscathed! We can fight what comes our way We can try to run away Or we can meet life, head on, and relish every thing that is thrown at us! Seize life! "Suck the marrow" from it! Comments From Past Participants "Thank-you so much you were just fantastic. You presented the best workshop I have ever experienced. I came away with so much more. By drawing on your life experiences you made it all so real." "Hilary's down-to-earth style of presentation, breadth of knowledge, real and interesting examples, original ideas and great material, makes every workshop she conducts, a winner!" "Incredibly perceptive and confronting in the nicest possible way, flexible and adaptive, truly professional my experience with Hilary has been nothing but positive!" "A very light touch on fairly heavy underlying material. Humour. Understanding the context thoroughly. We continue to be impressed and very satisfied." "Hilary connects with people and gains their trust and is able to get people to work through extremely difficult and confronting issues. She has the flexibility to structure workshops to tackle the issues I am seeking to address." "Well balanced facilitation, personable, friendly, forthright, knowledgeable and great examples" "I used your paper and the work we had done at the workshop, to develop the strategies for staff meetings and working individually with staff. I found it all extremely helpful. While this has been a difficult process for us, the seminar has been extremely helpful to manage this change far better. So my sincere thanks!" "One difference between your technique and other seminars is that you keep the pace going: short and effective. You felt like a friend at the end of the workshop." "Please accept our warmest thanks for the admirable way in which you conducted our seminar. We were so taken by your perceptiveness and tact." "I am writing to let you know that I have been promoted to Professor. Your leadership strategies have been a great help over the past year, and surely assisted with my promotion. I am the first woman professor ever in ., which is a landmark." "The feedback after your visit continues to be very positive. It takes rare skill to work so successfully in both a small-group intensive format, and then a large group presentation. People really enjoyed working with you and we will continue to benefit from your expertise and energy." "Hilary is the "master" in getting involvement and engagement in a non-threatening way - and creating a "safe" environment." "The results of the Staff Opinion Survey show significant improvement compared to the identical survey conducted last year. Much of the improvement can be credited to the work you so ably designed and facilitated. This has gone a long way to making our staff a much more satisfied group of employees." "Hilary dealt with issues that could have been contentious in a sensitive and non-threatening way. She would not let any matters that needed to be dealt with be ignored or avoided. The results are constructive and workable."
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