Explore - Understand - Adapt - Thrive
An Introduction to the Adapting to Change Section
As society moves through constant change, so do the perceptions and needs of both customers and employees. Within the first section, these perceptions will be monitored with Touchpoint and Experience Maps.
In this section, we will be covering Big Picture Change and Risk. The organizations and individuals who can adapt to change the best will have a leg up on those who are struggling. This section is designed to help people understand Big Picture topics and how they can impact individual approach and avoid actions. The topics in this section (like the 7Starters) are a base to build an understanding of areas of change and risk. Each business is unique to the categories on Change and Risk Maps will vary.
The pages of this section will be designed base on the following:
We start with a detached view of human society and work towards bringing that down and showing how it can impact organizational and individual approach-avoid actions. Each organization (departments, etc.) have specific needs, and we will build individual Ongoing Change Maps based on these needs and objectives sought. As such, your organizations individual Change Map will have categories that are important to you.
Within the Big Picture here, all the categories do have an impact on every organization. Since they are Big Picture, it can go unnoticed at times (if something is going smooth - Example > Economy - less attention is put on that input. Organizations and Individuals need to focus on the important hear and now.
For each page, there will be three sections:
First > Detached Observation Statements of Change and Risk
These statements will reflect the importance of exploring that particular category. They will also help us in being more proactive versus reactive through change.
Second > The potential change risk of within that category that can impact society, organizations, and individuals
These are the risks that will be reviewed within that category, the blog, and within content.
Third > A section with links to news/research that show current events of that category
This will assist in seeing and understanding the change that is unfolding in real time. It will also share stories of how others are adapting.
The world is complex. To better manage the use of your time (energy), we will strive to make our content simple and easy to digest.
NOTE: Whether you work with us, someone else, or on your own, we advise you to have an Ongoing Map to take on Constant Change and Uncertainty. As you will read below, Unknown - Uncertainty - Constant Change will be on the menu going forward.
BIG PICTURE INTRODUCTION
Imagine being a person who is just about to turn 100 years old. Every day of their whole life was spent living in one small house in the same area, with the same people in their lives, and the same routines every day. Then, about a month before their 100th birthday, this person is moved to a foreign land, where everything is different every minute of every day. They now have to interact with different people every day, with no routines anymore. Everything is uncertain, and this person finds it very challenging to adapt to this change. This is an analogy of today's society and how the human brain is trying to adapt to new and constant change. Humans have spent most of their existence in small groups within a limited area, and with a small number of people to interact with.
The human race (brain) is attempting to adapt to a world that it was not built for. Humans can and do adapt to change. However, it does take time to adjust, and each person has a different speed and way of adapting to constant change.
Here are the pages of the Big Picture:
- Math/Exponential
- Energy
- Economy
- Resources
- Environment
- Knowledge
- Technology
- Global Village
Want to build an Ongoing Change Map that helps you and your organization through Constant Change?
Reach out to us by clicking the button below and we can be a part of your team to:
- Understand Change
- Adapt to Change
- Thrive through Change
At the bottom of this page, you will find an example of an Ongoing Change Map. Take a look and CONTACT US if you would like to have an Ongoing Change Map built for you.
Importance of Learning - "Theory of Mind" - Empathy
Build better maps with increased Self and Society Awareness
As will be discussed in the knowledge page, human society has a lot of knowledge of both the self and how the world works (and how human society works). We can take that knowledge and improve moments and experiences for others. Let's begin with two definitions:
Theory of Mind - Ability to understand the thoughts, beliefs, desires, and emotions of other people.
Empathy - Ability to understand and share the feelings of another person.
Building maps is about exploring how other people (customers and employees) approach and avoid within their world. Using Theory of Mind, learning through feedback, and having empathy to how another person interprets their world will help in providing the types of experiences that people will want to come back for. A successful map completes this objective.
Coping with Change
List of potential ways people will be coping in this changing world
By taking a detached view of society, we can explore and learn more of how people are currently and will continue to attempt to adapt and cope through constant change.
People can reframe situations to change how they interpret inputs and feel more in control (control increases certainty)
Denial – Avoiding reality. This can help in keeping self-esteem and requires less energy.
Rationalization – A way to cope that preserves self-esteem by justifying thoughts and actions.
Distraction – Focusing on something else to avoid discomfort.
Fantasy or daydreaming – Escaping reality mentally to explore possibility or find relief. A better world than the one the person is in.
Problem-solving – Actively seeking solutions to reduce stress or uncertainty.
Future planning – Making goals to create a sense of direction. Taking control.
Compartmentalization – Keeping different parts of life mentally separated. Managing energy and stress.
Intellectualization – Using logic or facts to distance from emotions.
Humor – Laughing as a release and perspective shift.
Crying – A natural emotional release.
Expressing emotions through art, writing, or music – Externalizing internal experiences. Making a better world.
Meditation or mindfulness – Staying present and centered. Can reduce stress - helps in coping with change.
Gratitude – Focusing on what’s good, even in difficulty.
Emotional suppression – Bottling things up (not always healthy, but common).
Journaling – Making sense of experiences through reflection.
Self-talk – Coaching ourselves through inner dialogue.
Seeking beauty – Nature, art, music, or aesthetics to feel grounded.
Hope and optimism – Believing things can improve. Avoid depression.
Spiritual practices – Prayer, rituals, or meditation for peace and connection.
Talking with friends or family – Sharing burdens and getting validation.
Belonging to a group or community – Finding strength in connection.
Helping others – Coping through kindness, shifting focus outward.
Seeking support or therapy – Getting guidance or professional help.
Social comparison – Measuring ourselves against others (for better or worse).
Conforming to social norms – Feeling secure through fitting in. Cultural survival.
Storytelling – Making meaning through shared narratives.
Humor with others – Laughing together to reduce collective stress.
Imitating role models – Learning how to cope by watching others.
Social media engagement – Connecting (or distracting) digitally.
Routine and structure – Creating order in daily life.
Exercise – Releasing stress through movement.
Consuming comfort food or drinks – Soothing or numbing emotions.
Shopping or material consumption – Seeking control or gratification.
Working or staying busy – Distracting through productivity.
Avoidance or procrastination – Delaying stress-inducing situations.
Travel or physical escape – Changing environments to shift perspective.
Cleaning or organizing – Gaining control through external order.
Self-care rituals – Baths, skincare, routines to soothe and reset.
Engaging in hobbies – Focusing attention on something pleasurable.
Exercise to improve self and society awareness:
Reflect on the above list to observe how you cope with constant change and stress. Then, reflect on people in society and see this list play out in various forms.
