The cost of change will never be lower.

Often in our state of overwhelm (or it can be the powerful draw of the status quo), we avoid dealing with the big change that is necessary. The “ah-ha” occurred but taking the requisite action does not fit into our current plan, feels like too much, or outside of what we can manage at this time.

It is often a change we have acknowledged that needs to be made (address racism and/or gender dynamics in the workplace, shift directions on a large project, re-establish boundaries in a significant relationship) however, we have made a conscious choice to not address this change now but push it to a future, often undetermined, date. Does this sound familiar?

We are just so busy. We are waiting until things slow down.

It will be easier when we are a smaller team.

It just doesn’t make sense until we grow.

I’ll deal with this after x happens.

Yes, there are contingencies in project planning and project management. And, no, I am not advocating for more “urgency” related to white supremacy culture. I do value rest, spaciousness, moving at the speed of trust.

That said, I have noticed a theme in recent conversations with clients and colleagues: putting off deep, critical work that is calling to be done now for a future date. It feels like an avoidance of doing the hard work that matters. Here’s the thing, the cost for making change will never get lower.

The longer we wait the more resentment builds. The microaggressions and harm accumulate. The sunk costs towards a different outcome are spent. We don’t recoup these costs when we (finally) start on the path toward making change.

Avoiding dealing is a choice with costs all its own.

Here’s the thing, once we know something is wrong we need to start, to begin, on the path to a better way.

Yes, beginning a conversation about racism, or upping your allyship to another level, will be messy, painful, and less than perfect. Begin anyways.

Yes, you’ve realized a faulty input went into a decision you made. Pause now. Regroup. Mea Culpa. Push out the delivery date. Redesign and reshape, if necessary Stop the presses and fix the inputs.

Yes, acknowledging you have over-promised or are now uncomfortable with previously arranged boundaries in a relationship can feel awkward. These situations won’t resolve themselves. Find the words to describe your needs.

#ShowUpHard

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