Change Communications

Stimulated by a discussion with a good friend and colleague, I have just been reading up on the two levels of change put forward by Gregory Bateson and Paul Watzlawick and I thought I’d summarise briefly:

First-order change:

• Change within a given system.
• The system itself remains unchanged while elements or parts undergo some kind of change.
• Problems are approached mechanically, the same problem solving strategies can be used over and over again.
• Example: a father dealing with his son’s chronic misbehaviour by applying more punishment. The structure of interactions between father and son remain constant.

Second-order change:

• Change to the system itself.
• The system is transformed structurally and/or communicationally.
• Problems are solved by trying something radically different or unexpected.
• Example: encouraging the son to misbehave under certain conditions.

That’s fine. But what about our projects and clients in all this?

Well, an awareness of these two levels of change can help when working on a change project. It is important to realise that two people can experience the same event as either a first-order change or a second-order change. For example, a boss may insist that his/her project does not change the whole system or framework but just the rules of working within this framework, “we are just asking the team to come in a half hour earlier”.

However, certain employees may feel that the framework has radically changed, the environment has changed, new points of reference must be adopted. For example, “My whole family life needs to be re-organised to get there on time. It’s not fair. Why can’t we just continue the old way…”

Understanding and taking into account the modifications to the environment and it’s impact on the emotional human fabric of the population undergoing change are the keys to developing actions for successful change initiatives.

Implementing change of the fist-order would mean accepting the need to change but within the framework of the old situation. This is likely to produce little effect and in some cases may reinforce current difficulties. A second-order change would mean stepping back, looking at the system differently and adopting new points of reference. The change can the take place in a new environment and framework.

The paradoxical theory of change and communication
Extracts from Paradoxical Psychotherapy: Theory and Practice With Individuals, Families and Couples
By Gerald R. Weeks, Luciano L’Abate