Showboat Learning Network Newsletter
This corporate newsletter was produced for employees of all Showboat casino properties.
Production of a newsletter for Showboat employees at the company's four properties, focused on learning organization concepts.
Sample story:
Coping with Change
The experience of change has four phases -- somewhat like the four seasons
When we're in the middle of a major change in our lives, either at work, at home or in our communities, the experience can feel overwhelming. One thing that may help is to keep in mind that change is a process, an experience, and we can come through it.
Experts have noticed that no matter what the cause of a change -- the loss of a job, the death of a family member, the end of a marriage -- people react in remarkably consistent ways. We tend to go through the same four specific phases as we cope with the change. It may sound corny, but the phases can be compared to the four seasons, starting with autumn.
Phase 1 -- Denial
An autumn chill in the air
"The first, natural response to major change is to not believe it is happening," says Harry Onsman in his book, How to Manage Change in the Workplace (ABC Books). "Any event that clashes seriously with the way we want the world to be tends to be denied or ignored, at least initially." Believe it or not, this may actually protect us. The reaction of shock helps numb us, so that we don't feel overwhelmed by the situation.
Phase 2 -- Resistance
Winter's cold, dark night
The next thing we feel is resistance. "In this stage the situation is seen as real but unacceptable. You want to fight it, change things back to the way they were," Onsman says. "You may express your resistance by falling ill and acting out your feelings of hopelessness. You will look for people or circumstances to blame." This stage can be so emotionally intense that sometimes it feels easier to go back to denial. But by acknowledging your resistance, and working through it, you can move on to the next phase.
Phase 3 -- Exploration
The rebirth of spring
How long do we want to sit in our misery? Eventually, our natural optimism reappears, and we start thinking about the options that are open to us.
"This is a vital phase as it will determine your future," Onsman says. "It carries risks, in that you may decide to grab the first option that seems positive. Accepting the first option that occurs to you -- say, the first job offer -- may not be the best solution in the long run. Don't try to complete this phase too soon as it is a period of high energy and high creativity."
Phase 4 -- Acceptance
Warm, sunny days of summer
Finally, we adjust to a new frame of mind. Life goes on, and we come up with ways of making it work for us -- a new job, or if we've lost a partner, perhaps we start socializing again. The sense of loss subsides.
The cycle is complete, and a season of our lives has passed. So try to look at change as a process of growth and development. When it is finished, we are different, and hopefully much stronger, than we were before the experience.
