You can adapt this approach to consider your reactions as an employee, friend or consumer of services. In each instance, you’ll likely identify different emotions, behaviours and language that you can recycle positively into preparing for the upcoming change.
To make the exercise even more potent, facilitate a small group session that goes through each step. It isn’t that people don’t like change; they don’t like being changed.
A small focus group as a one-off or part of an ongoing engagement activity can be hugely beneficial. After all, each of us lives a slightly different version of reality; we all bring different experiences, backgrounds and languages to the table, even if we don’t talk about it. This technique works with a staff group, but can also work with customers or patients.
And if you have a significant change to make, why not engage with local voluntary organisations, your local surgery patient participation group, or even the local branch of Healthwatch to create a safe environment to explore evolution?
Use the opportunity to describe the change you’re implementing – ideally concerning the long-term goals of the community you serve. Demonstrate your desire to handle the transition well and to ensure that as many people benefit as possible.