Four ways to reduce change fatigue today

Everyone is tired. Tired of the wrong things changing, and staying the same.

So how do we reduce change fatigue and lighten the cognitive load of the changes we need to make?

Well here's four simple strategies to help lift the load on the brain, and make everyone feel there's some space for what's coming up in your organisation.

1. Bring in the Visuals

Did you know our brains process visuals way faster than text? Like, 60,000 times faster!

So when we're rolling out new changes, why not help everyone 'see' what we mean?

Using diagrams, flowcharts, and infographics can make understanding new processes a breeze. It's like giving everyone a map in a treasure hunt—it makes finding that 'X marks the spot' so much easier and less overwhelming.

A variety of infographics without meaningful data

2. Time to Reflect

Imagine if we could hit the pause button now and then to think about how things are going with the changes we’re implementing. Well, we can and we should!

Scheduling regular reflection periods isn't just a nice break; it's a crucial part of the learning process. It gives everyone a chance to catch their breath, share thoughts, and tweak things as needed. This isn’t just good practice; it's brain-friendly too, helping all of us really get on board with new ways of doing things.

Imagine the next time you announce a change, you offer everyone a couple of minutes of quiet reflection to think through what you've said and process it for themselves? It's one of the simplest and best techniques we teach all our leaders!

3. Keep Emotions in Check

A woman holding up a circular piece of paper with different emotions displayed on it in a flower formation

Changes can stir up a lot of feelings, and not always the good kind. That’s why boosting our emotional intelligence during these times is key. Training that helps us recognize, understand, and manage what we’re feeling can make a huge difference.

It turns potential meltdowns into moments of calm and keeps the team focused and less stressed. Think of it as emotional armor for navigating the bumpy roads of change.

Not sure what that sort of training looks like? Jump on a Clarity Call with us and we will talk you through how quick, easy and fun it can be to build up skills in listening, emotional granularity, influencing and regulation.

4. Stretch Those Brain Muscles

A woman playing with lego pieces at a table

Ever heard of neuroplasticity? It's the brain's amazing ability to adapt to new situations.

We can boost this by engaging in activities that challenge us to think differently—like creative problem-solving tasks or learning new skills.

It’s kind of like taking your brain to the gym; a little workout can make it more flexible and open to new ideas, which is exactly what we need when we're shaking things up with innovation.

Not sure how to bring play to work? Check out our Play for Purpose workshops, or jump on a call to design something just for you.

So why not Reduce Change Fatigue today?

Even just introducing one of these techniques is a quick and easy way to reduce the load on your people and make change a little easier to process, understand and adopt.

And remember, if all else fails, you can always do less and give your people a real break!