Change Facilitation
Dr. Gene Hall

Taking Charge of Change
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Alexandria, Virginia

Implementing Change
Allyn and Bacon
Needham Heights, Massachusetts

Dr. Hall states, "Change is a process, not an event. It is natural for people to resist change and organizations can not change until the people within the organization change."

Dr. Hall shares with us seven stages of concern that people experience when they face change.

• Awareness - "I think I have heard of that."
• Information - "I need to know more before I decide."
• Personal - "How is this going to impact me?"
• Management - "How can I do this on top of everything else?"
• Consequence - "How is this going to impact the people around me?"
• Collaboration - "I need to work in a team environment to be really productive."
• Refocusing - "I have a better idea."

We can not force people through these stages. We can learn to identify them and respond to people in a manner that will address their concern. People will move on only after their concern is alleviated. A response that does not address a person's particular stage of concern will only entrench them in their current stage and inhibit their acceptance of an innovation.