Big Change and what it means for all the other changes

Most of us accept that the world of work is constantly changing. But I was thinking about how the wider world is also constantly in flux, either moving forward at a rapid pace, or moving backwards into pain or corruption. The concept of change has taken on new dimensions. We know we can't contain change at an individual level and we're learning we need to do much better at managing change as a global force.

Our brains are constantly changing in response to our changing environment. Our adaptability is the secret to our success as a species. The challenge is to harness our adaptability and use it toward positive ends, to make choices about who we want to be in our world. You don’t have complete freedom to create yourself; you do come with genetic gifts and limitations, or temperament. But you have a lot more power to become the person you want to be than you might think. You are not predetermined by your genes.

Mona D. Fishbane, PhD

Change is crossing the boundaries of our individual lives and pulling us into the global fabric. From climate change and gender and minority equity to the march of AI and the tragedy of conflict, these macro-level changes are reshaping our world. How individuals adapt in response to Big Change will inevitably influence how we respond to all the other changes.

Let's look at some current Big Changes and understand their profound impact on our process of dealing with change.

1. Climate Change, A Call for Urgency

Shamefully, humanity has come to the party very late on climate change. We now face a crisis that has elevated the urgency of change on a global scale. As we continue to witness environmental shifts and their dramatic impacts, the drive for organisations to implement sustainable practices becomes undeniable. Organisations are compelled to rethink strategies, adopting eco-friendly measures and reassessing the scorecard in terms broader than just dollars.

As individual consumers, we're challenged to rethink daily choices, together creating a ripple effect that has put massive change pressure on organisations and governments. This has been complex, especially where the various change pressures do not align.

Consider the global movement towards sustainable and ethical fashion. Despite the fact that it makes production and consumption more expensive, consumers are now more inclined to support brands that prioritise sustainability, fair labour practices, and transparency in their supply chains. These individual choices have aggregated globally to shift the priority away from cost drivers to more genuine consideration of what is ethical and sustainable, driving industry and government response.

2. Gender and Minority Equity, Transformative Inclusion

The call for gender and other minority equity has sparked a transformation in our workplaces and communities. As we strive for equality, the dynamics of leadership, decision-making, and collaboration continue to undergo significant change.

Prior to the democratic forces of social media, organisations were particularly slow to change. However now organisations are moving through the paces of applying to tokenism to genuinely seeing the mandate in diversity. The need for diverse representation in organisational structures is becoming better understood, being seen as a no-nonsense way to harness quality inputs, rigorous decisions and rapid market alignment.

As organisations come slowly to accept the social vote regarding gender and minority equity, we see them modelling the breaking down of barriers and fostering environments where diversity is celebrated. And this is driving innovation and progress.

3. AI and Technology Advancement, Shaping Tomorrow

The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and technology is undeniably reshaping industries and occupations. It has been a seismic shift requiring a proactive approach to change, not just in terms of skill acquisition but also in the very nature of how we perceive work. Adaptability has been high as individuals and organisations navigate each new uncharted technology trend. AI and technology are shaping the next generation, being in widespread use in households and schools, but policy response has been lagging.

Since the late 2010s, the use of AI in education has been growing. AI applications are in our institutions automating grading, supporting students with chatbots, using predictive analytics to identify at-risk students, and in virtual teaching assistants. AI is being used to enhance assessments and facilitate learning. But policy has been slow to catch up. UNESCO published the first-ever consensus on AI and education, the Beijing Consensus, in 2019, and followed this up in 2023 with Guidance for Policy Makers. It stated, “While ChatGPT reached 100 million monthly active users in January 2023, only one country had released regulations on generative AI as of July 2023.”

Considering the level of global anxiety about AI in education, the lack of policy response has been astounding, but not actually surprising. This is reflected throughout organisational change delivery. Policy-level work seems to lag significantly behind the implementation of new technology solutions. Trying to entice organisations to plug their policy holes when implementing change is a lot more difficult than it should be.

4. War and Hostilities, Navigating Trauma

World conflict creates multi-faceted, complex and far-reaching change. The violence of combat, destruction of infrastructure, weakening of institutions, loss of life, economic failures, degradation of long-term physical and mental health all cause trauma that compounds through generations. It divides diasporas and communities, it provides opportunities for negative forces to impact daily lives deeply and sometimes invisibly.

In this context change needs to be more than a response to immediate challenges; it requires a sustained commitment to building a better, more harmonious present and future. Rebuilding societies, healing communities and fostering cooperation become paramount. Social and work cultures need to build in administrative fairness, inherent justice and better understand generational trauma, communicating openly about the support available to help individuals manage its impacts.

What Big Change means in our lives and work

Big Changes command attention. They don't let us get away with ignoring them for long. They demand a shift in mindset and a global approach that impacts individual resilience. At times this can leave less time, patience and energy for individuals to invest in all other aspects of life.

Both personally and professionally, individuals cannot avoid Big Change. But as with most change, alignment to the big picture will facilitate more rapid acceptance and accelerate us towards getting done what needs to be done. Individual flexibility, resilience, and a global perspective are no longer just desirable traits; they're essential tools for modern life.

For all the other changes we're implementing, Big Change means we need to incorporate sustainability, equity, equality, responsible use of technology and compassion in meaningful ways that make the small changes compatible with these major global forces. Big Change produces other changes, creating a domino effect that shapes our world and influences how we adapt.

As always, the question is not about whether change will come; it's about who will be the emerging leaders that navigate their people through the change when it gets here.

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