Paradoxically, change is one of the few constants in life.
It always has and always will be …
We accept the cycles of nature, which bring us ongoing change:
- the day-night cycle
- our circadian rhythm
- seasonal changes
- life cycles
- and many others
Most of us adapt effortlessly to nature’s rhythms, while some struggle to fully adjust.
But this is not the kind of change I’m talking about.
I’m talking about the changes imposed on us by external forces; some of them are difficult, if not impossible, to escape.
Take Artificial Intelligence as an example …
Even though alarms have been raised about the current lack of oversight and regulation, AI is here to stay.
AI is with us, ushering in life-altering changes we have to adjust to.
So…
What does all of this have to do with cheese?
Well, everything, if you’re Hem, Haw, Sniff, or Scurry, the characters in Spencer Johnson’s book, “Who Moved My Cheese.”
It’s a book about change, and how we deal with it.
For the heroes in the book, cheese represents everything worthwhile in life.
While it may not be cheese we cherish, we may value safety, status, power, more money, a big house, another degree, or a new car.
But then life throws us a curveball (or two), changing our trajectory, and instead of dealing with the new reality…
Some of us hem and haw rather than embrace change, while others sniff out change, scurry along, and move forward.
The book is a delightful, short read full of lessons to help us deal with change. See for yourself here …
Here’s The Problem We’re Left With …
In the past, change moved much more slowly, making it easier for us to adapt.
But today, it happens at breakneck speed…
And it shows up everywhere, in our personal and professional lives.
Why Is It So Difficult To Accept Change?
If change is one of the few things we can count on, why is it so difficult for us to accept that?
By default, most of us assume that things will stay the same. So when change is forced on us, we naturally resist it.
And it makes sense, because when something is working, there’s little motivation to question or change it.
Change disrupts our routines; what was once predictable is no longer.
As humans, we like and need routines and predictability. Being able to “predict” what will happen next reduces fear and makes us feel that we’re in control.
Our habits and routines reduce fear and remove the anxiety that comes when facing the unknown. They free us to make better decisions, focus on important work, and deal with the more challenging tasks in our lives.
Add to it the fact that change is easier to recognize in hindsight than when it is happening, and it’s clear to see why change is hard to accept.
Most significant changes begin gradually:
- A once-reliable source of income becomes less reliable
- New platforms are free until they slowly move to paid
- A consistent referral source makes fewer referrals
- Insurance companies make small changes in reimbursements
- Rules, regulations, and laws get challenged and change
Because early warning signs that things are changing are often small, they are easy to overlook or dismiss altogether.
Are You Resisting Change?
While resisting change is often interpreted as stubbornness, it usually has deeper roots.
For practice owners, change may mean taking on financial risk. New systems, employees, or marketing strategies often require investment without a guaranteed return.
Change may also impact clinical routines.
As a healthcare provider, you value accuracy and consistency; they are essential to providing quality patient care. However, they can also make exploring new business processes and opportunities feel uncomfortable.
There may also be a fear of making the wrong decision. Perhaps you worry that change will disrupt your team, upset your patients, reduce your revenue, or waste already-limited resources.
Often, resisting change is disguised as procrastination, skepticism, or repeated requests for more information. Hiding beneath may be the need to avoid the feeling of loss.
But there’s also real resistance…
Practice owners may resist when change comes from the outside, when it’s imposed on them by insurers, regulators, vendors, technology companies, or larger healthcare systems.
Even a necessary change may result in resentment when it feels there is little choice or control.
Threats To Identity And Competence
Change doesn’t happen in isolation; it affects the entire person.
Change affects how we see ourselves.
If you’ve spent years developing excellence in your field, you may feel threatened by new methods, systems, or expectations you may not fully agree with or understand.
Required transitions can feel uncomfortable…
You may have to learn new skills, ask questions, be open to making mistakes, and admit that your current knowledge may no longer be enough.
A new billing requirement, technology platform, marketing strategy, or compliance rule may suddenly make an experienced clinician feel like a beginner.
Identity may also be tied to a job title, business model, leadership role, or long-standing routine; when that changes, people may feel that they’re losing more than just the process.
The Cost of Waiting
While not reacting to the change, waiting may feel safer than moving forward, but it comes at a price.
Often, the longer people resist change, the fewer choices they are left with.
- A business ignoring changing customer needs may lose revenue
- Employees who resist upgrading their skills may find it difficult to remain competitive.
- The professional who resists adopting necessary technology may be forced to choose under pressure
When people embrace change early, they can try different approaches, gather information, and take time to make well-informed decisions.
But when they wait until they must adapt to change, they may have to move quickly, with fewer alternatives and fewer resources.
But the biggest danger and trap may not be changing itself, but spending too much time living in a reality that no longer exists.
Waiting may feel cautious, but not moving forward can create even more risk.
- A practice that ignores patient preferences may lose patients to competitors who offer more convenient hours.
- A practice owner who delays reviewing expenses may allow financial problems to grow and get out of hand.
- A business that postpones technology upgrades may eventually face operational or security problems.
- Staffing issues may worsen. Revenue may decline. Compliance gaps may become more serious. Necessary changes may become more expensive and disruptive.
Recognizing and responding early to an upcoming change allows you to try out different solutions and find one that best suits your business.
Responding late, however, often leads to rushed decisions and less optimal solutions.
When practice owners respond early, they can test new systems, gather feedback, train staff, review results, and make adjustments.
But when they wait until the situation is critical, they may have fewer choices and less money available to solve the problem.
How To Be More Adaptable To Change
Being more adaptable does not mean welcoming every change or abandoning good judgment. However, it means developing the ability to respond to changing circumstances.
First, you must stay alert and pay attention. Monitor reimbursement, patient behavior, staffing patterns, expenses, denials, and competitor activity.
Stay abreast of major shifts in technology and monitor your practice’s financial condition. Small changes in these areas can provide early warning.
Don’t wait for a crisis; try to notice the small changes so you can respond appropriately.
When you notice any changes, acknowledge them and question whether your current habits, assumptions, and strategies are still producing the best outcomes.
Next, question your assumptions. Ask yourself whether the practice relies too heavily on a single referral source, payer, employee, service, or process.
Adapt to the change by taking small steps…
- Test a new scheduling process with a limited group of patients.
- Pilot a service before expanding it.
- Train one team member before changing the entire workflow.
- Small experiments reduce risk and provide useful information.
Allowing time for experimenting, developing new skills, and revising your routines can provide useful information without requiring a complete rework.
Finally, accept that change will be uncomfortable and treat it as part of the process. Confidence develops when you take action, even if it feels uncomfortable.
How To Help Others Adapt To Change
Others don’t always welcome change.
To minimize resistance, regardless of whether they are family members or staff, get them involved.
Keep them informed, ask for their input, and be transparent.
- Communicate early rather than waiting until decisions are final
- Explain why the change is occurring
- Listen and acknowledge legitimate concerns
- Don’t be dismissive
- Break large changes into smaller steps
- Provide training, time, and practical support
Most everyone will be more willing to adapt when they feel heard, respected, and supported.
In Conclusion …
Change is a constant, whether we welcome it or not.
While we cannot predict what will change or how, we can stay alert, open to change, willing to adapt, and learn.
Safety and security don’t come from keeping everything the same.
They come from knowing that when things change, we can recognize them, adjust our thinking, develop new skills, and move forward.
Always remember:
- Change happens
- Anticipate change
- Adapt to change quickly
- Rinse and repeat …
What is your comfort level with change? How do you handle it in your business?
Let us know, leave your comment below …
By Johanna Hofmann, MBA, MAc., regular contributor to the NPBusiness blog.