With proactive change step by step out of the crisis.

At the moment, we are all having a tough time. From children's noise in the home office, unproductive online meetings, to struggling business models, everything currently feels a bit tedious. Perhaps you are also a leader, responsible for people and organizations, and want to make a difference in line with business goals. However, you often come up against the limits of pandemic-related restrictions and the incredibly variable conditions of the current times, sometimes feeling powerless as a result... Unfortunately, I don't have a miracle cure for the pandemic, but I have dealt with proactive change a lot in my life and have experienced surprisingly positive turnarounds even in seemingly hopeless times. I come from a family with addiction issues, the consequences of which both my father and brother did not survive. On various occasions, I had to confront the terrible feeling of powerlessness that relatives of addicts experience. Because you can never save those affected if they don't want to be saved themselves. As difficult as it is to accept this truth, this time has sharpened my focus on how to remain capable of taking action even in difficult situations. Whenever feelings of powerlessness arise, I have learned - even with a magnifying glass if necessary - to search for a scope of action that leads to an improvement in the situation. The following three aspects can support you in this: 1. Perceive and accept the current situation honestly Sometimes it is bitter to look honestly, but somehow also relaxing. Because the energy previously used to maintain an illusion can be redirected towards taking the first steps in a new direction after a sincere assessment. I know managers who have been working at the upper limit of their capacity for over a year and still do not take a vacation. Others working from home are only in "standby" mode and are confronting the concept of "boreout" for the first time in their lives. However, only when you pause and admit that "more of the same" will harm rather than benefit you, can you initiate proactive change - a change that occurs in time and prevents you from later being forced to rethink due to more radical cuts such as illness or job loss. 2. Create a motivating vision of the future Once the facts are on the table, it is often not easy to break free from the thick mass of problems and create a positive vision of the future. However, utilize the human's ingenious ability to imagine and feel into possible future scenarios. If you don't yet know what your grand vision is, take a first step in a pleasant direction. Sounds trivial? But it's not - it has been proven that people can lift themselves out of severe burnout situations with simple new habits such as walking for half an hour daily, gradually returning to consider new life perspectives. This is also proactive change! Many people do not know what they are capable of - they hypnotize the problem and end up loving it so much that they don't want to let go. However, even a small glance to the left or right could already be a mini-solution. For example, I resisted marketing myself on social media for a long time and waited for "real" networking to be possible again to make new contacts. But eventually, I made my first post and received the first "like," playfully starting to delve into the subject matter and realizing that it is even fun! 3. Consistently follow the new path The journey into the new begins with the first step, and often it is abandoned when resistance arises - precisely at the point where the old (familiar) has already bid farewell and the new is not yet familiar. Then fears, uncertainties, and sometimes even aggressions arise, and many people, including many leaders, struggle to cope with these feelings. The magic formula here is: Please stay and listen! Staying in touch with yourself and with your employees, even when it is uncomfortable, seems to me to be a key to the future of the working world. Because change will remain and may even intensify. For proactive change in organizations, it is particularly important that at least one person (is that you?) feels responsible for a change and sticks with it beyond the mentioned "zero point." Additionally, it is helpful to seek allies and create a network for change. Find those people in your environment who think similarly to you and support your endeavor - even in higher management levels. With top management support, a lot can be accomplished in companies... I hope these three aspects for proactive change were a valuable inspiration for you - if you want to learn more about these topics, feel free to read my book "Emotionales Change Management." Finally, I would like to encourage you, dear reader, to stay committed to your personal and professional changes. Every person can change if they decide to! If any of you need support in this process - I'll be there...