Change Thrival Skills

What skills are you leaning on in these uncertain times?

As the winds (or hurricanes) of change whistle through our personal lives, our work and the global stage...

I find myself confronted with a simple fact: the fundamental skills that serve us day-to-day have changed.

I'm talking about change survival skills.

More than that - because who wants to just survive?? I'm talking about skills to thrive at work and in life.

Even, and especially, as we navigate seemingly minute-by-minute updates in the landscape of our lives.

On a personal level, I am currently in housing limbo, living with young family at my folks' place as we straddle the sale of one property and the purchase of another. The impact of this change on all levels of me - my conscious thoughts, unconscious mind, emotions and body have been a wonder to witness. Luckily, life has already equipped me with the mind-body awareness to know that I need to give space for this unfolding and adjustment to happen in its own time. But it still hasn't been easy!

In my work, I witness the people I am coaching and training arriving into the virtual and physical spaces in which we gather in states of overwhelm, distraction and upset. Tears are closer to the surface. People are more open to share just how affected they are by the instability they are experiencing. Work and personal challenges interweave more easily, no longer strictly separated by our 'professional selves'. In turn, the work I need to do to hold space for people is different - longer and looser 'arriving time', intuitive adaptation of my plan and more negotiating task according to group needs. And the skills I teach and enable are coming to the fore in this context.

My starter for five for the fundamental 'Change Thrival Skills'?

The ability to

1) adapt - minute by minute, day by day, week by week

2) roll with the discomfort of uncertainty

3) find opportunity in adversity (the art of the possible)

4) hold (emotional) space for self and others, welcome vulnerability

5) listen

No longer are these 'soft skills'.

No longer are these skills for some people, while others crack on with the objective work of doing and getting done.

These are the skills that everyone needs to get things done together in times of change. We can no longer afford to work alone.

Disagree with me?

Great! Welcoming divergent thinking and dissent could well be my number six.

What are your top five fundamental skills for thriving together in the uncertain times we find ourselves in?

If you'd like brave company in which to flex these skills and give space to yourself to adapt and thrive, come along to our monthly peer coaching community - next one is 25th April, 9am GMT and the link is in the comments.