This is the final post in my series, I’m not sure that means what you think it does.

So far in this series, I’ve taken a look at what I think people intend to communicate and what they may unintentionally be communicating when they say:

• Change is a good thing
• Resistance to change
• The only constant in life is change
• Change management

In this post, my spotlight is on the phrase You have no choice but to change and go with the flow.

What people intend to communicate

Two weeks ago I dedicated a post to the phrase The only constant in life is change. This week’s phrase, You have no choice but to change and go with the flow, is a close relative to that one.

I think when we tell people they have no choice and they need to go with the flow, we’re trying to help them avoid or minimize the challenges that can accompany a big change. We don’t want others to suffer, get stuck, or not successfully adapt.

What people may unintentionally communicate

I can think of very few positive life experiences that come after the words, “You have no choice but to…”

As human beings, we have agency, choice, personal autonomy, and the ability to think for ourselves and make choices. When we are free to apply these characteristics in the workplace, it can lead to creativity, innovation, satisfaction, positive business results, and a positive, abundant work environment.

By creating an environment where the prevailing message is “you have no choice, just go with the flow” we may unintentionally be creating a workplace where fear, scarcity, helplessness, dissatisfaction, and feeling trapped prevail. This environment isn’t conducive to positive business results or happy people.

Closing thoughts

We may also be giving people the idea that if they don’t “get on the bus” right away, they’re “against us rather than with us” and are a problem. Since open communication, healthy debate, and the exchange of ideas are often key to arriving at the best solutions, do we really want to create an environment where these behaviors are considered undesirable?

In almost any change, you have choices, including whether or not to stay in the environment.

Thank you for reading. Please post your thoughts and comments below about You have no choice but to change and go with the flow.

This was the 11^th post on Mike’s Blog on Change. I’m taking a break from posting next week, but will be back January 2, 2024. Until next time, take care and keep up the good work!

Mike