Discovering the own immunity to change is a very powerful method to broaden our behavior. We all have principles of life, big assumptions, that have brought us to the point where we currently are. There is nothing bad in this. However, often this assumptions, as useful there might have been in the past to protect us along the way, might hinder us to reach our current targets or commitments. If we dare to reflect on our big assumptions, we might overcome our own boundaries.
Applying the immunity to change
You can use the immunity to change individually or in groups. To effectively implement it collectively, however, an certain level of mutual trust is required. Unless people wouldn’t unveal ther worryboxes and transform themselves.
1. Identifying the collective improvement goal
- Agree upon a single collective goal
- Assess it’s alignment with appropriate questions:
- Do I agree I am not doing well enough on this?
- Do I agree I am significantly implicated in this – that the problem cannot be largely laid at the feet of parties or forces external to my boundaries?
- Is it important to me to get better at this? Are there big payoffs (or big cost averted) if I do?
2. Taking a fearless inventory (of behaviors contrary to the improvement goal)
- List concrete behaviours.
- Behaviours that are working against 1.
- Don’t ask why (resist problem solving!)
3. Unconvering competing commitments
- Why do you behave like listed in 2.?
- Each is tightly tied to a particular collective worry or fear.
4. Uncovering collective big assumptions
- They make the commitments inevitable
- They represent a “danger zone”:
- Do I feel that these aspects or my mindset are seriously impairing my effectiveness?
- Do I feel like it could make a big difference if I was able to release myself from these big assumptions?
- Do I feel that I owe it to myself to see if I can alter any of these?
Breakout sessions (30 minutes)
Try to fill in your own immunity to change:
- Define an own objectif you would like to reach and note it in the first field up left in the chart.
- Now, write down in the next field to the right what you are (not) doing instead to achieve this target.
- Why are you doing 2.? Note your reflections in the next field to the right.
- We are now coming to the big assumptions. Why do you think, 3. is important?
Now you have probably detected the major reason why you are not going to reach your own target. You are now free to chose whether you want to overcome your big assumption, often an unconscious fear, or not. - If you like to go on, just dump your big assumption in the worrybox. What would happen if you left it there? Is it a fact or just an assumption that you can leave behind? What could be a more helpful big assumption for your life?
It is here where you can exchange with your peer. What impulsions could you get from him/her to make you proceed to the to the lower side of the chart, that brings you back to your original commitment. It is on this lower way, where your big assumptions and commitments finally match. The probability that you will achieve your targets is much higher this way.
Source
Kegan, Robert & Laskow Lahey, Lisa (2009):
Immunity to Change. How to overcome it and unlock the potential in yourself and your organization. Harvard Business Press.