As a businessman interested in making a positive difference in the world, I am often faced with the challenge of finding the way to make change digestible. One way to present the necessity for change is by appealing to logic and reason. Another way is to make an emotional appeal, calling on the heart of another to compel change. A third approach is to combine the two, that is, charging a logically sound and compelling argument with passion and perhaps urgency.

Being creatures of habit, human beings tend to prefer the status quo. Change introduces uncertainty where there was predictability. Change adds risk to a safe situation. Positive change, or growth, requires more from you than you gave before and creates a pressure wave that moves out into the world you center that says: “This is the new standard. I did it, so can you.”

The general aversion to change, for better or for worse, must be taken into account when you are introducing a new idea, no matter how logical, necessary or critical the reason for the change may be. CHange is typically seen as an all-or-nothing proposition, and the middle ground, taking baby steps is often overlooked.  That said, introducing change gradually instead of all at once is often the wise course, where there is the time and the room to do so.  The question is: “How much change can this system or person tolerate without completely losing its sense of balance, security and comfort?”

Graham Hill, in his interesting and brief TED.com presentation shown below, makes the interesting observation that introducing a third, middle of the road option between two extremes can facilitate change that would otherwise be stymied by the resistance to change.

When you look at the choices you have to make in your world, or when you are considering changes that others around you could usefully make, take time to determine the real options. Matters are rarely black or white and sometimes baby steps are warranted. Change over time is still change. It needn’t happen all at once and sometimes the time it takes for a change to “feather in” is beneficial to all involved.

This is not an argument against decisiveness, rather, it is a call to the spirit of reasonableness. You can’t always expect the world you center to conform to your wishes all at once, even if your wishes are reasonable and correct. Inspire those around you to change for the better, but give them the room…and the time to do so. Giving space to the process of change will help you to develop a greater sense of timing. All things do have their season.

Have a great day!