With the beginning of a new year close at hand, many people are looking with great anticipation toward what 2008 will reveal.  For example, those of us here in the United States will have elected a new president by the end of 2008 a new president and election year politics and hyperbole will be over for the time being.  Now I, for one, think that’s exciting. 

But for too many others, a new thing, any new thing, can bring with it fear and consternation.  “Why can’t things stay as they are?” such folks wonder. “Why do I have to change all the time?”  Instead of excitement at the prospect of new opportunities, these people are filled with dread.  Instead of having an open mind regarding what the future might hold, they attempt to hold tightly to what they already know, without any consideration as to what the future might provide.

It was the very early 80s and I was a very young Personnel Supervisor in a large manufacturing company.  One day my boss summoned me into his office and gave me what proved to be one of the most difficult tasks I have ever undertaken. “Phil, what do you know about these new personal computers that we are reading so much about?” Jerry asked.

(Remember, it was the early 1980s.  Steve Jobs was just beginning play with his Apple and Bill Gates, an unknown, was still trying to find what he wanted to do with his life.”)

“Not much really,” I admitted. 

“Well, Phil, I’m convinced they are going to be thing of the future.  The more I read and the more I experiment with them, the more business applications I see for them.  The possibilities are exciting.  For your information, we have made a business decision to purchase a personal computer with a word processing package for each our administrative staff members.”

“Okay,” I said obediently, still not understanding the full magnitude of this decision, nor the role I was about to play in making it all happen.

Jerry continued, “And Phil, I have decided that you need to be the one that brings this project to fruition.  I want you to get all the secretaries together and let them know what the plans are.  Then when the computers arrive, I want you organize training sessions for all the administrative staff so they can learn the operations together and you can learn right along with them.  The sooner we transition from the typewriters we are now using to the PCs, the better.  Any questions?”

I was beginning to catch on.  I was beginning to realize that this was sure to be big deal.  But in my wildest imagination I could not have conceived the reception this decision would receive. 

A few days later I convened a joint meeting with all the ladies who shared secretarial duties throughout the various departments within the plant.  There were about a dozen or so in total.  As they filed into the meeting room, they did so in a very reserved manner.  They took their seats and sat in stone cold silence.  Every eye was on me as I stepped to the front of the group, my youth, inexperience and uncertainty on display for all to see.

“Ladies, this is an exciting time in business and in the world of technology,” I began with as much enthusiasm as I could muster.  The ladies continued to stare (or glare, depending on your perspective) straight ahead.  I stammered on unconvincingly. 

“Many of you may be familiar with these new personal computers that are all the rage in businesses right now.”  If any were familiar, they gave no indication of such.  I plowed ahead. 

“Well, you will be happy to know that our company has decided to take the lead in our industry and that shortly we will be investing in a personal computer for each of you.  It is our intention to be on the cutting edge in embracing these types of technological advancements as we continuously work to maximize our productivity and profitability.” 

My former Murray State University data processing teacher would undoubtedly have been proud of me.  Chances are I would have earned an “A” from him that day for my presentation.  However, my data processing teacher was no where to be found.  Instead I was looking at a dozen women that I felt certain would not be nearly as generous in their evaluation of my message.  The more I talked the more noticeably restless the group became.   

“Yes, very soon we will be replacing the old IBM Selectric typewriters you’ve been using for so long with your own brand new personal computers.”  words were barely out of my mouth when the room exploded in response.  Where mere minutes before, no one seemed willing to speak, suddenly, everyone had something to say and they all seemed bent on saying it as the same time and as loudly as was humanly possible.  My audience that day went from quiet, to restless, to surly in world record time. 

I was stunned.  I was shell-shocked.  I stood frozen with the fear that accompanies the realization that I had no fall-back plan.  However, their message that day was unmistakable. They had no intentions of surrendering their IBM Selectrics typewriters.

Author’s Note:  I realize that right about now a whole group of my readers, those “30-somethings” and younger—are feeling terribly confused.  Some of you must be wondering “What is an IBM Selectric typewriter anyway and why is Van Hooser making such a big fuss over it?”  Trust me on this one. Go find one of those dinosaurs you work with—the ancient ones in their mid to late 40’s or older.  The chances are very good that if they have worked in any business environment for the past 20 or more years, they harbor fond remembrances of the product in question and in turn, will be able educate you and answer your questions on this subject better than I.

Who could blame these ladies?  The IBM Selectric typewriter was a GREAT product.  With its backspace feature and erasable correction tape built in, not to mention the two or three nifty balls allowing for easy transition from one type font to another that could be changed out in less than a minute or two.  Heck, let’s face it, even I could make a letter or document look good if I was using that product. 

But, time and progress marches on and waits for no one.  The time had come to move from good to better.  Unfortunately, these ladies were far from convinced.  And the most vocal dissenter of all was their informal leader, “Alma!” 

Alma was the most senior member of the group.  She was highly skilled, well respected and more than willing to speak her mind.  And we all soon learned that in her mind this was not a good idea.  The rest of the group agreed emphatically with their leader.  Let’s just say that the meeting ended on a less than positive note.

A few minutes later I limped back into my boss’s office, with my tail tucked securely between my legs.  My ego bruised by the experience.  I was able to mumble one of the greatest understatements of my career, “Jerry, they don’t want new computers.  They want to keep what they’ve got.”  I was hopeful that Jerry would take the hint and simply reconsider.  Jerry was not of the same mind.

“Phil, the decision has been made.  And I have given you the responsibility to see to it that it happens.”

“Yeah, but, Jerry, they aren’t willing to listen to me.  They are all listening to Alma,” I protested.

“Then it’s Alma you better be convincing.  I suggest you have a one-on-one conversation with Alma to explain the need for this decision.  If you win Alma over, the others will follow.” 

I hated it when Jerry made sense.  I hated even more the thought of facing Alma, alone.

“Alma, I’m sorry you feel the way you do about this decision,” I began.

“Don’t feel sorry,” Alma replied curtly.  “It is what it is and I have no intention of changing my mind.  And you are certainly not going to change my mind.”

“Well, Alma, I must tell you that the decision has already been made. Management sees this as a strategic decision that is best for the future of the organization.  The PCs have been ordered.”

I had always had a good relationship with Alma, but now I was seeing a side of her that had previously remained hidden.

“Phil, I will not be forced to use a personal computer,” she stated flatly. “And if you try to force me, I will simply quit.  And I feel certain that if I quit in protest, others will follow my lead.”

I was stunned.   “Alma, I hope you’re not serious.  This little change is not worth forfeiting a career over, is it?” 

Apparently, she was serious and it was worth the forfeit, because in the days that followed, as preparations moved forward to install the new PCs, Alma gave her notice and moved on.  But, she was the only one.  For whatever reason, the other secretaries stayed on, though I must admit the air was thick with tension for several days.

Finally, the day arrived for the secretaries to receive their initial training on these new PCs and the word processing packages.  And almost immediately something amazing happened.  Literally, within fifteen minutes of the beginning of the group instruction, I overheard one of the participants, previously a very vocal dissenter; say to a colleague, “Gosh, this is a lot easier than what I thought it would be.  Look, at all the word processor can do that we could never do on our typewriters.”

There is it was.  The transition from good to better had begun.  And it only took fifteen minutes.  Yet, the concern and the pushback had lasted weeks leading up to this point.  There had been harsh words, hurt feelings and even one casualty, Alma, in the war of change and progress.

The experience just shared happened many years ago.  Yet, I have thought of it dozens of times over the years when I have watched individuals, smart, dedicated, hard-working individuals, aggressively resist change for no other reason that it was uncomfortable and the future uncertain.  But that’s the way the future is, mysterious, undefined, ready to be shaped and used at our discretion, for good or bad, but all based on our attitudes.

In the new year ahead, I encourage you as leaders, to carefully check your attitude toward the new and different opportunities and changes you are certain to encounter.  People are counting on you.  People will follow you.  Be ready to be a positive leader, not an “Alma.”

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