Lessons From the Day of Love
On the surface, Valentine’s Day is about the material things: chocolate boxes and teddy bears, special meals and outward, tangible expressions of feelings. But if we look a little deeper, it says a lot about how we relate to people and, as change managers, there are things we can learn from seeing beyond the hearts and hugs of Valentine’s Day.
- Lead with love:
Successful change management fosters trust, communication, and patience – the same qualities that build strong relationships. Leaders who use these qualities to guide their teams create an environment where their people feel supported during transitions – especially when change is challenging.
- Sometimes it’s the small things:
Gifts are synonymous with Valentine’s Day because they work. An outward marker of the fact that someone has thought of you can be a powerful motivator. It’s for this reason that small desk drops, gifts and prizes are helpful when we’re guiding people through the change process.
- Planning is everything
If you’ve ever had to hustle to organise a last-minute plan for someone on Valentine’s Day, you’ll know the regret of not planning for it sooner. Change management requires the same level of planning so that, even when projects present us with unforeseen challenges, we have the comfort of a plan.
- Heart to heart
Valentine’s Day can be useful for people with busy lives because it forces them to take some time to connect with their significant other. Creating space for communication is a vital part of the change management process – especially for leaders with busy schedules.
- The art of appreciation
Recognition and gratitude are powerful tools in navigating change, much like they are in nurturing relationships. On Valentine’s Day, we’re given the chance to recognise the importance of another person for our daily lives. When we’re stuck in the chaos of a change process, we can learn from this: Take a step back and recognise the contributions of individuals to the success of the change.
