This is the headline for a great article in Forbes by Jeroen Kraaijenbrink. He contends: crises present opportunities and as Winston Churchill stated you should “Never let a good crisis go to waste” At the time Winston pointed out the UN would never have existed without WWII.
So what is it about crises that make them such strong accelerators for change? Crisis shakes up preconceived notions, accepted beliefs, structures and routines.
What are three possible reasons to make a change.
- Practical: You have to change anyway. Most people avoid change but a crisis forces change, removing choice.
- Intellectual: It shows change is possible. Imposed change shakes things up and opens the possibility of change.
- Social: It creates momentum. During a crisis people feel more connected. Old barriers disappear and a willingness to work together in new ways emerges.
How does this help you? A crisis like covid19 challenges many preconceived ideas, it has opened a window for change and created an appetite for something different. Most people are not longing for the return of what they had. Take advantage of this time to explore new relationships with work, to find new ways of relating to the world and to create a new normal. Evaluate what was working for you and what wasn’t, now is the ideal time to take a fresh approach.
You can read Jeroen’s article in more depth here.