Things Break in Disruptions; People Don’t Have To

Let’s start with the obvious: Things break in a disruption. In planned disruptions such as:

• the release of an innovative product that changes the way people buy, e.g., brokers or payment apps
• the creation of new machines meant to perform tasks requiring human-like processing, e.g., AI
• the introduction of new currencies, e.g., crypto
• the deployment of new military strategies, e.g., Al-Qaeda on 9/11

All these and many other types of planned disruptions are meant to break processes, “the old way,” in order to win – in a product category, the market or the world.

Planned disruptions are meant to catch people off guard. So, we usually experience them as chaotic and exhausting as we strive to get our bearings and catch up. The tremendous amount of uncertainty causes our brain to send out danger signals that raise fear and anxiety – focusing all our attention on staying afloat in the raging storm rather than paying attention to what the disruptors are doing.

Eventually, all that fear and anxiety begins to wear us down—we start feeling overwhelmed, unable to focus, exhausted and often indifferent. At that point, we are out of energy and no longer care.

Understand that in many cases, lack of energy and indifference is the goal of the disruption – to wear people down, so that we lose focus and interest in what’s going on. That increases the chance of winning.

Furthermore, research suggests that disruptions don’t exist in isolation. The breaking of structures, processes and programs then sets off other triggering events based on underlying issues that have been simmering all along – think Covid’s impact on our lack of care or protection of our first responders, those struggling to make ends meet, and years of racial and ethnic discrimination.

So, if we don’t want people to break during disruptions of any kind, we need to take some important steps:

1. Do everything you can to keep your physical energy up— this is critical!

• Get plenty of sleep
• Eat healthy and drink less alcohol
• When anxious, do at least 6 rounds of deep breathing
• Make time to take more steps
• Make time for physical exercise (even if it is a little each day)

2. Manage your mood:

• Reduce screen time
• Choose to be around people who give you confidence, help and hope
• Stop doom scrolling
• Find things to read or listen to that make you happy or bring you joy
• Make time to take a break daily, go away for the weekend, take a vacation

3. Anger is a predictable part of a disruption, and it takes a lot of energy. Pay attention to how much time and energy you are devoting to being angry rather than on doing something to move you and others forward to a better place.
4. Expect other triggering events to erupt. Knowing these are predictable helps you see they are just a normal part of any disruption.
5. Let go of things you can’t control; focus on what you can. You only have so much energy, so use it to move you forward.
6. Be a port in the storm for others. Help them find confidence and hope – even in the littlest things. By helping others, even a little, your energy will increase.

If we focus on keeping our energy up and others keep their energy up, we will be able to focus on what ultimately matters and make a real difference.

Things break during disruptions.

People don’t have to.