Hello all! We are in 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 Expand your comfort zone. This week’s lesson is….

Remember to take care of yourself

This week’s lesson is a paraphrase of something my improv instructor has taught me. While he talks often about taking the gifts that my scene partner gives me, every once in a while he also reminds me to take the gifts I give myself, to notice the valuable things I say during a scene, and to use them to help build the scene rather than just running past them to get to the next thing I want to say.

The more I think about “giving myself gifts” in my change management work, the more it makes me think about the value and importance of taking care of myself. Often times, it’s easy to get caught up in all the work that needs to be done and how to help the people going through a change and forget to take care of yourself (at least it can be for me).

Sometimes it can be easy to forget that just by entering into a situation, I am changing it. If I set healthy boundaries about how much I work, if I’m taking care of myself physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, and if I’m making time for personal and professional development (and just plain old fun!), I’m more likely to have a positive effect.

Just by entering into a situation I am changing it.

Closing thoughts

I want to hear from you! What has your journey been like to take care of yourself while being a change management practitioner? What practices have you found to be helpful?

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