Stanford Report, April 22, 2009

Cardinal Chronicle

BY MICHAEL PEÑA

As you might have read in last week's issue, Stanford Report will cease print publication this summer—and along with it, my column. I have received formal notice that I will be laid off at the end of May. So in the time that remains, I may occasionally share personal thoughts and experiences that I hope you can relate to. For instance, last week, I attended one of the organizational change workshops for staff that the Learning & Development office has been offering. The last one will be held on May 21, and if you can set aside the three-and-a-half hours for the workshop, it might be well worth your time.

Some of what we discussed—acknowledging the anxiety and anger brought on by change, knowing that people have different personality types and will react differently—might seem like common sense. But basic reminders can also be helpful: Our facilitator emphasized the distinction that change is an external event that occurs at a particular point in time, a departure from how things used to be or something that is entirely new. Transition, however, is the internal process afterward of adapting to the event—a process that generally follows a cycle that begins with emotions associated with resistance to change, then bottoms out somewhere around stress and confusion, eventually ascending with acceptance and enthusiasm. I'm not quite there yet, but I can identify with something the facilitator recalled thinking after getting laid off from a previous job: "I got a chance to rewrite the script of my life."

Some of you may have participated in an internal survey that asked about how you prefer to receive news and information about Stanford. Many provided additional comment that you like reading this column. Thank you. In the weeks ahead, I hope you'll continue to turn to me for a sampling of what's happening around campus, or to promote timely events like this one:

Today, in honor of Earth Day, the Stanford Utilities Division will host a taste test: tap vs. bottled water. Everyone is invited to participate and learn about the differences in water quality, costs and environmental impacts. The test will be in White Plaza from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Write to Michael Peña at michael.pena@stanford.edu or mail code 2245.