change

1. Understanding and Adapting
to Change
Presented by: Darren Gomez
Chief of Staff, Office of the Chief Financial Officer
General Services Administration

2. Two Types of Change
Self Imposed Change – You see
something within yourself or
your environment that you want
altered.
Imposed Change – Someone
other than you initiates the
change.

3. Characteristics of Change
Self Imposed Change
 Can be something as simple as changing
your outfit, the color of your walls or as
complex as your job.
 Relatively easy to adapt to because you
establish the parameters of the change.
 Usually accompanied by a sense of
excitement and expectation.

4. Characteristics of Change
Imposed Change
 Typically much more complex than self
imposed change.
 Can be difficult to adapt to. Usually
because the individual is not in control
of parameters of the change. The
difficulty increases as the information
flow decreases.
 It can be difficult to not take it
personally.
 Usually accompanied by a sense of
dread and a fear of the unknown.

5. SEE
Significant Emotional Event
Requires you to adapt to a new situation
Can affect you physically and
emotionally
Two types of SEEs
 Personal (marriage, divorce, birth, death)
 Professional (job, resources, bosses)

6. Stages of a Significant Emotional
Event
Shock or Denial – I Can’t believe
It!
A Flood of Emotion – Typically
Anger
Bargaining – Let’s Short Cut the
Process
Depression – Mistaken for Grief
Acceptance – Intellectual or
Emotional

7. The Four F’s of Change
Which One are You?
Freeze
Fight
Flee
Flow

8. Working Through Stress and
Change
How long does all this take?
 Typically 12 to 18 months
 Must occur within 24 months or you will
risk burn out and quit or you will become
difficult and “batter the nest”.
 All changes produces loss (which must
be grieved).
 Recognize that this process is natural
and normal.
 Change produces fear – Of What?

9. Story Time
Dope on a Rope

10. Working Through Stress and
Change (Con’t)
How Do I Feel
 Confused or unhappy
 Low Morale
 Beaten Down
 Alone – Nobody Knows the Trouble I
Seen
 Depressed – But not an excuse to
misbehave or perform poorly.
 Acceptance – How Do I Get There?
 Let’s go back to the old ways.

11. Story Time
The Elephant and the Twig

12. Harsh Slap of
Reality Time!

13. Ways to Protect Yourself
Recognize that what you are feeling is normal, resisting will only
make it worse.
Find someplace to vent your anger.
Managers must increase information flow, if you are not getting
enough information, ask for it. Don’t be a martyr.
Keep in mind that during times of change, all perceptions are
distorted and they are usually negative.
Keep as much familiarity as possible during times of change.
Work on maintaining or creating a support system.
Take care of yourself physically. Avoid escaping with excessive
alcohol consumption, drugs, over eating, gambling, etc.
Relax – You have been through things like this before and
survived you will survive this change too.
Where am I going to end up?

14. Story Time
The Big Move

15. How you approach the change will determine
how well you will adapt to the change.
Managers – Remember that associates are
looking to you see how you are reacting.
QTIP – Quite Taking It Personally - You are
not the only one going through this. Be the
example!
BE POSITIVE!

16. Last Story
The Shoe Salesmen

17. Questions