Mastering the Fear of Change

Change is a scary proposition. For some, even making a minor change is as terrifying as stepping out of an airplane without a parachute 5,000 feet above an alligator pit.

The fear of change can manifest as a phobia psychologists call Metathesiophobia. The symptoms of Metathesiophobia can be severe, ranging from panic attacks to health issues. If you believe you have a severe phobia, you should contact the appropriate health professional, but the chances that you have Metathesiophobia—or any phobia, for that matter—are slim.

According to the National Institute of Health, only 9% of U.S. adults have a phobia. Of that number, only 21% have a serious issue. That’s approximately 1.8% of the population. Remember, we’re talking about all phobias, the most common being Arachnophobia (fear of spiders), Ophidiophobia (fear of snakes), and Acrophobia (fear of heights). I couldn’t find solid statistics for the number of people with Metathesiophobia, but one can assume that it is pretty low on the list.

If my assertion is accurate, then why does it seem that so many people fear and resist change? The answer is that fears and phobias are two different states of mind.

Fear Vs. Phobia

According to WebMD, fear is a natural reaction to an actual or perceived threat, while a phobia is an unnatural reaction that impacts your quality of life. For example, if there is a bee in your car while you’re driving 70 miles an hour on the freeway, it would be natural to fear being stung. You would probably open your windows and hope it flies out. If you had a phobia of insects, also called Entomophobia, your reaction could cause you to have an accident.

Being afraid of change is natural. It’s a part of our 'fight or flee' instincts. We develop habits that we feel comfortable with and resist changing them, even when that change is for the better. This mostly happens because we fear the unknown. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the workplace.

Fear of Change at Work

“Will I be able to learn that new technology?”

 “Will my role be reduced by the next generation?”

“Will my new boss like me?”

“What happens when the merger goes through?”

These are all logical and normal workplace questions that reflect our fears. Sometimes we can control the outcome and sometimes we cannot, but we can always choose how we react to change. It’s our choice to embrace change, work to make it better, fight it, or ignore it. Often, our level of fear is based on the degree the consequences affect our current life situation. I have a fear of heights, for instance, but I have no problem flying because I understand the concept of aerodynamics (the consequence is low) and because flying is part of my job (the situation is important). That said, you will not see me walking onto one of those elevators with a glass floor. First of all, it is not important to my situation, and secondly… IT’S A Glass Floor!

Overcoming the Fear of Change

Imagine sitting on a wooden chair in a strange, pitch-black room. You have no idea what or who is in the room with you. You hear faint noises, your imagination goes wild, and you begin to feel afraid. Suddenly the light goes on, and the first thing you do is check out the room. Your fear subsides because you now know that you and the chair are alone. When the light goes out again, you’re more at ease.

Information is the light that helps you manage your fear of change. Action helps you control it.

I mentioned previously that not knowing the outcome of change is the primary reason we fear it, but that’s not the only reason. Feeling that you are not in control plays a large part as well. Once we accept why we fear change, we can take steps to control that fear. I choose to overcome my fear of change by doing the following, and it may also work for you...

• Accept that change is inevitable.
• Gather information about the current change you face.
• Based on your present situation, determine the possible consequences of the change.
• Choose how you will react: embrace the change, work to make it better, fight it, or ignore it.
• Create and enact your plans to achieve the best possible outcome.
• Take control.

In the words of Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius:

"You have power over your mind-- not outside events. Realize this and you will find strength."

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Allen Yesilevich, VP Marketing & Growth @ MC²

I lead the marketing, digital transformation, demand generation and growth efforts at MC², an award-winning globally-recognized brand experience solutions agency. I also write for Forbes. Connect with me on LinkedIn and Follow me on Twitter for my thoughts on experiential and growth strategies.