Change Management
I think the main reason I ended up being a tester is because I'm more curious than average. You could say that I'm nosy, and it wouldn't be too far from the truth, but beyond nosy, I'm interested.
Last week in a meeting I heard someone refer to change management, but not in the way I understand it. I understand it as a way to track versions or a method to control code changes in a system. As I do sometimes, I wrote myself a note to find out what in the heck this change management stuff is about in the context it was mentioned.
I've attended a day long seminar before on "Introducing Change" given by a woman who was a software developer and had a doctorate in Psychology. I was approaching the information presented as a way to get my testing ideas to see the light of day.
Reading more about it, I now realize that I have been naturally doing some of this on my teams over the years. If I really believe in the ideas, regardless of who's ideas they are, I get behind them and really move them forward. I do have some of my own ideas, but over 7 years I've done much more work on bringing momentum to good ideas that other people have.
I have a double edged sword of strength/weakness in this area. The strength is, if I really believe a change is going to work, and is for the better, I'm all in. I'm the first one in line to be an early adopter. I'm not change resistant and I will use my enthusiasm and charm to get other people either excited about it, or to feel less threatened by it. This is easy for me. I am one of those people who likes change. My current job is never the same from day to day. I work on many things. This is fun, but I think it would give some people whiplash.
The downside is, if I think that the change will not work or I don't believe in it or trust you, I'm very effective at creating an angry mob. Not just a verbal group of people disagreeing, but the underground resistance as well. I don't mean to do this, and I think I'm just sharing my opinion. I give little thought to how my venting might influence other people. I am not part of the underground resistance. I can't fake it. If I don't think an idea is good, silence or "agreeing to comply even though I don't agree" is the best I can do. I can't pretend to support the idea and lie about it. Many people will appear to do as the Romans do, but actually do what they believe is best as soon as the Romans are out of the room. Others will leave Rome never to return.
So, there are many many suggestions on how to manage change. What can I do? I can help with getting people to understand why I believe that the idea is good. I can help to get people to try it sooner rather than later. I also can sincerely explain why I trust that the intent behind the idea is not something to fear. I have somewhat of a fear sensor. I can kind of easily tell what people are afraid of. It's a weird talent. I don't mean ESP or anything, just reading expressions and body language. I'm also very aware of what I'm afraid of, which helps me recognize it in others.
Being aware of the downside to this natural aspect of my personality, I've learned a tough lesson the last few months. I must focus my attention and energy on things I really believe in. There is no need for me to fight against bad ideas. They are doomed to fail without my intervention, given time. I may think I'm protecting the company and the people I care about by preventing a costly bad idea from moving forward, but really, I'm misusing my talents in a way that will ultimately hurt my career and reputation. In the future, I'm hoping to say in a detached manner, "I am concerned about ________ for the following logical reasons." Then write them out, and move on to work on something else that I can believe in. I can't put my passion, time and energy into negative things. If I repeat my reasons why I don't like it multiple times to many people, I start an unintentional negative gag reflex to the idea, which is pretty unfair, and is also a good way to gain some powerful enemies. The strength and weakness of telling a compelling story is that it has impact, and not just to those who heard the story.
Note to self: Use powers for good, never evil.
Last week in a meeting I heard someone refer to change management, but not in the way I understand it. I understand it as a way to track versions or a method to control code changes in a system. As I do sometimes, I wrote myself a note to find out what in the heck this change management stuff is about in the context it was mentioned.
I've attended a day long seminar before on "Introducing Change" given by a woman who was a software developer and had a doctorate in Psychology. I was approaching the information presented as a way to get my testing ideas to see the light of day.
Reading more about it, I now realize that I have been naturally doing some of this on my teams over the years. If I really believe in the ideas, regardless of who's ideas they are, I get behind them and really move them forward. I do have some of my own ideas, but over 7 years I've done much more work on bringing momentum to good ideas that other people have.
I have a double edged sword of strength/weakness in this area. The strength is, if I really believe a change is going to work, and is for the better, I'm all in. I'm the first one in line to be an early adopter. I'm not change resistant and I will use my enthusiasm and charm to get other people either excited about it, or to feel less threatened by it. This is easy for me. I am one of those people who likes change. My current job is never the same from day to day. I work on many things. This is fun, but I think it would give some people whiplash.
The downside is, if I think that the change will not work or I don't believe in it or trust you, I'm very effective at creating an angry mob. Not just a verbal group of people disagreeing, but the underground resistance as well. I don't mean to do this, and I think I'm just sharing my opinion. I give little thought to how my venting might influence other people. I am not part of the underground resistance. I can't fake it. If I don't think an idea is good, silence or "agreeing to comply even though I don't agree" is the best I can do. I can't pretend to support the idea and lie about it. Many people will appear to do as the Romans do, but actually do what they believe is best as soon as the Romans are out of the room. Others will leave Rome never to return.
So, there are many many suggestions on how to manage change. What can I do? I can help with getting people to understand why I believe that the idea is good. I can help to get people to try it sooner rather than later. I also can sincerely explain why I trust that the intent behind the idea is not something to fear. I have somewhat of a fear sensor. I can kind of easily tell what people are afraid of. It's a weird talent. I don't mean ESP or anything, just reading expressions and body language. I'm also very aware of what I'm afraid of, which helps me recognize it in others.
Being aware of the downside to this natural aspect of my personality, I've learned a tough lesson the last few months. I must focus my attention and energy on things I really believe in. There is no need for me to fight against bad ideas. They are doomed to fail without my intervention, given time. I may think I'm protecting the company and the people I care about by preventing a costly bad idea from moving forward, but really, I'm misusing my talents in a way that will ultimately hurt my career and reputation. In the future, I'm hoping to say in a detached manner, "I am concerned about ________ for the following logical reasons." Then write them out, and move on to work on something else that I can believe in. I can't put my passion, time and energy into negative things. If I repeat my reasons why I don't like it multiple times to many people, I start an unintentional negative gag reflex to the idea, which is pretty unfair, and is also a good way to gain some powerful enemies. The strength and weakness of telling a compelling story is that it has impact, and not just to those who heard the story.
Note to self: Use powers for good, never evil.
That's neat that you bring momentum to god ideas that other people have. I also thought that I was not resistant to change, it's sexy to think of oneself as being an early adopter and quick to change. The truth is that change is difficult because it requires you to think, exit your comfort zone and do something new. That's tough! What you organize an angry mob and make a rebellion? I'm a cop and will catch you if you should ever go in the undergroud or spread subversive ideas that decrease the moral and productivity of the work force. You anarchist testy, testy!
Seriously now, fear, doesn't most behaviour have fear at its root? Do you think all humans have the same fears?
I'm afraid of not using my time wisely enough. Not learning enough. Not being productive enough and not living every moment as if it were the last one on earth.Carpe Diem. When I focus on a task or mission, only that is of importance. Flow with the stream. If the majority decides one way, that is the way and then embrace it with a full heart. Ultimately put personal reasons side and reason in on what is best for the company is best for you. Right being aware that every action you take has an impact and be a positive force that motivates and enlightens and stay away from the negative. Right on use powers to good and evreything good you do to others will come back by a factor of ten. Knowledge is like love, the more you give the more you get. Give goodness, receive goodness.
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