Interruption: Nemesis or Necessary?
Photo by: Sonoita-Elgin Fire District
Interruption.
That word can carry a negative connotation. “Don’t interrupt me when I speak.” “You interrupted my downtime.” “Progress was interrupted.” Interruption is often synonymous with the term impediment. But why? And, is it?
I live in Sonoita, AZ, which has beautiful tall grasses that wave in the breeze and glow in the setting sunlight. Those grasses, the same grasses that make the view immaculate, are the cause of many wildfires throughout the year. A key step in helping to stop the spread of a wildfire - interruption! Keep grasses low between property lines or add a row of gravel. Why? These treatments interrupt the fire as it progresses - even if only a brief pause. That pause can buy you time to make your next move to combat the fire. These interruptions are intentional and focused - they have a goal and serve a purpose.
Focused interruption can be a powerful tool. It is a cornerstone of the change management framework. An early model of change management outlined by Kurt Lewin consists of three phases: unfreeze, change, and refreeze. This is the simplest model of change evolution, three simple steps - but there is a lot to unpack in those steps!
Unfreeze is all about interruption. Albert Einstein said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” If you want to make a change, start by stopping. More directly, start by interrupting the current process.
For teams, unfreezing is a helpful tool when the team isn’t collaborating or communicating well. Same for when a team is underperforming and a project or deliverable is at risk. In those moments, one of the best things you can do is STOP and RECALIBRATE. I call this “the boop” method. Sometimes we all need to be “booped” - brought to a halt to get out of our own heads, stop overthinking, or bring the negative emotional spiral to a halt. Teams are no different. When people get overwhelmed, their patience and ability to problem-solve is lessened. Team members want to be heard, and feel valued and respected. When those needs aren’t met, team fault lines shift and collaboration and communication get farther and farther from alignment. I’m not suggesting a literal tap on their nose (the “boop”), but something that is completely unpredictable for all. Something that will create a shared experience and get them to see each other as teammates again, as partners - no roadblocks - in their success.
For organizations, a focused interruption can be elevating! Why is this important? According to the US Business Formation Statistics, over 10 million new businesses have been started between 2021-2022. This is amazing for those new organizations, but this means that there is a constant level of noise that makes it difficult to be heard or seen.
If you want to be seen and heard, you need to make what you offer as impactful as possible. Prompting interruption, or unfreezing, allows you to evaluate your offerings and prepare for adjustment. Get comfortable interrupting your current processes and protocols so you can make them more streamlined and efficient. Interrupt your current offerings and evaluate them to make sure they are adding the right value.
Next step - Change. Focused interruption allows for change, and purposeful change is Value’s ally. If you are new to change, utilizing partners can be helpful to gauge where change is needed. You can utilize partners within your organization, like other department team members or leaders. You can also use external partners like expert consultants or even create a focus group. However you do it, the goal is to introduce new objective information that will help you to create and implement new processes so you can reach your goals.
Finally, refreeze. Here you reestablish norms so you can identify and monitor the benefits of the changes you made. Though I speak about refreezing the least, it is just as crucial as the former two steps. Without monitoring change, we revert to old habits. Worse, we miss our chance at making another needed change timely.
Whether you are trying to improve team dynamics, process efficiency, or overall organizational effectiveness, consider the “boop” method. The focus interruption you prompt today can bring about the change that elevates your organization tomorrow.
If you want assistance navigating change, Next Chapter Strategies would be happy to assist. You can contact us for a free value-finding session and discover the next steps on your change journey.
