Hello all! I recently started a series called What does improv have to do with change management? In this series, I’m sharing some of the lessons I’ve learned so far from improv class that have direct application to my work as a change management practitioner. Last week’s post was Have a “we’re in this together” mentality. This week’s lesson is….

Be in the present moment and listen instead of planning your response

A few weeks ago, I was doing a scene with a classmate. My instructor stopped the scene and asked me to repeat back what my partner had just said. I wasn’t able to. My instructor pointed out that I had missed something important my scene partner just said, information that would have helped me learn more about who he was in the scene. The information would have helped me respond to him in a way that would have benefited the scene we were creating.

My instructor’s hunch was that I was busy thinking about what I wanted to do and say next instead of being fully in the present moment. He was right.

I was busy thinking about what I wanted to do and say next instead of being fully in the present moment.

I think this can be challenging during change initiatives. There is so much work to be done. There are usually tight deadlines associated with the work. There are usually multiple projects going on at once with more waiting in the wings. It can be very challenging to slow down, be in the present moment, listen to / take in the real time feedback you’re receiving from the people you’re working with to identify change impacts, risks, etc., and to let this feedback impact your next steps. Plus, we may be tempted to start formulating our response (how to reassure someone, provide an explination or information, remind someone how good the change will be, etc.) while someone is talking instead of fully listening.

When we aren’t fully present, however, we jeopardize the success of the project. Just like in my improv scene, if we’re only partially listening to our “scene partners” because we’re really focused on what we’re going to do next and where the project needs to go, we’re missing out. We’re missing important information that could help us learn more and respond in a way that benefits both project outcomes and everyone involved.

Closing thoughts

I want to hear from you! Have you found yourself planning what you were going to do and say next instead of being in the present moment and listening to the real time feedback you were getting from your “scene partners”. How did this impact your change work?

Please post your thoughts and comments below. Let’s help each other become the best change management practitioners and enthusiasts we can be!

Thank you for reading. Until next time, take care and keep up the good work!

Mike