Mourning the loss: the challenge of change

Presenters: Pam Nissler & Beth Jones, Jefferson County Public Library; Missy Shock, Douglas County Libraries, CO

This program was fairly good about how two sister library systems handled some major changes they instituted in their libraries. They talked about the “human element” of change, saying that changing spaces and operations can be predictable, linear and planned for, but it is not easy to change people or predict how people will experience change.

The way people go through change is comparable to the way they go through loss – several stages of mourning that are different from person to person. They said it’s important to give people time in each stage and help make the process as positive as possible. For example, one manager whose staff was moving from an old beloved building to a new building in a very different part of town had her staff make scrapbooks and record memories of the old building to take with them.

The program got a little dry and theoretical at this point as they shifted to explaining the Rogers Innovation Adoption Curve (from early adapters to laggards) and gave a lengthy description of the book “Influencers” which I’d heard of through my work on the Employee Orientation committee. I have to admit, once they started talking about the book, I decided it would be easier for me to read it than try to take notes on their convoluted presentation of it. Basically, you *can* influence people and must reach their hearts and minds in order to change their behavior.

Other tips – there are do-overs with change (if you handled something poorly with your staff, go back and be honest about it, and try it again); don’t get discouraged about change; tell stories to get change moving (“This is what our library will be like when these changes have been made…”)

I have some handouts from the program if anyone is interested or wants clarification. And, yes, I will be checking out Influences to give it a skim. 