Five Reminders About Successful Change From The Left Side Of The Road

I took a deep breath as we left the “car park” as it’s called in Ireland. The only comforting thought I had was, “I’m glad I paid for the upgrade to an automatic.” Changing gears with my left hand while navigating roundabouts and narrow rock wall-lined roads was an added stress I did not need right now as we embarked on Sydney’s college graduation celebration trip.

I pride myself on being good at change. Ever since reading Who Moved My Cheese? 25 years ago, I have an awareness of my own perspectives on change and how I need to change my thoughts or actions to “change and win” more often. But this change felt different.

As an American driver, being on the left side of the road felt backwards, foreign, and a little terrifying. I had to unlearn everything I knew about positioning the car on the road. I was thrust into an environment where every other driver seemed to have a level of confidence way beyond mine. They also didn’t seem to mind displaying that confidence as they whizzed by me on the highways.

However, as I navigated roundabouts, narrow country lanes, and reversed intersections, I realized I wasn’t just learning a new driving style—I was living out in real time five essential lessons for managing any kind of change well. Here’s what driving on the left side of the road reminded me about successful change:

1. Ask for Help

Before I left the rental car lot, I asked the attendant to walk me through the key differences of driving on the left side of the road. They included going clockwise on roundabouts, no turning left on red, and to cross the intersection before turning right.

Not wanting to leave anything to chance, I also asked Lisa to be my second set of eyes to determine which lane I should be in as we approached a roundabout and to watch out for cars that might be in my blind spot.

💡When navigating change, it’s dangerous to go it alone. Find individuals who have been on a similar change journey for their insights. Enlist the support of others to help you build the skills or develop the perspective that will move you more confidently through the change. Asking for help doesn’t make you seem less capable—it makes you more prepared.

2. Use Data

Say what you want about the evils of technology, but I loved being able to keep my eyes on the road while Apple Maps told me where I was, where I was going, and re-calibrated when I got it wrong. Without it, I might still be circling a roundabout in Galway with my passengers getting more carsick with every passing second.

I also really appreciated the signs showing which lane I should be in long before I arrived at the roundabout. Knowing that information ahead of time helped me focus on maneuvering through it more confidently.

In my days as a trainer for Who Moved My Cheese? I would talk about the “handwriting on the wall.” Facts, feelings, wisdom, etc. that give us direction on the next steps to take in a time of change. Over the years I’ve learned that acknowledging the data and the facts are crucial to successfully navigating change. Completely relying on feelings or hunches is dangerous.

💡In managing change, good data reduces fear and guesswork. It helps people make decisions based on reality rather than assumptions. Data allows people to see the size of the gap between where they are, where they want to be… and how they are narrowing it (or not) with the actions they are taking.

3. Invest Time to Understand People’s Resistance

My resistance to the change of driving on the left side of the road wasn’t because I didn’t want to-my brain had just been wired differently from 42 years of driving in the US. It wasn’t defiance; it was instinct. I had to unlearn so much.

I DID notice some resistance, or should I say fear, in Lisa and Sydney as we traveled along. When we would drive along narrow roads lined with rock walls or close hedgerows, Lisa or Sydney would gasp from time to time. I laughed at their lack of confidence in my driving UNTIL I started looking more closely into my left side view mirror. I was only a few inches from hitting the wall!!! Because I was sitting on the right side of the car, I didn’t realize the need to move closer to the center of the road (i.e. right) to create more space on the left. Once I was more intentional about doing that, they could both enjoy the journey even more.

💡People resist change for all kinds of reasons: fear, lack of clarity, loss of control, uncertainty, or even the work that will be required. (For other reasons people resist change, check out one of my oldie but goodies here.) Instead of labeling resistance as a problem, get curious about what’s behind it. Look at things from their perspective. Understanding resistance and acknowledging their concerns is the first step to helping people move forward.

4. Create a Process

My new driving mantra while in Ireland included “Stay left, signal early, go slow, and cross over before turning right at an intersection.” I would even repeat out loud what I was planning to do as a check of myself and to get it validated by Lisa. I created simple rules to anchor me when fear (or possibly panic in a couple of situations) threatened to take over. I made a process and stuck to it.

💡In organizational change, a clear, repeatable process creates stability in seasons of uncertainty. Communicate steps. Set expectations. Celebrate milestones. The more structured the process, the more confident people will feel stepping into something new.

5. Remove Distractions

To be able to concentrate while on the road, especially during the first couple of days in Ireland, I didn’t eat while driving. I would ask Lisa to open my water bottle for me. When someone would announce, “Castle-left side at ten o’clock” I didn’t try to find it. I took more breaks from driving than normal to rest my mind-and my hands from the tight grip I had on the steering wheel. I needed all my attention to adapt and keep everyone safe.

💡Simply put, change requires focus. Navigating uncertainty, learning new processes, and helping others find their footing in times of change is difficult. It is important to eliminate or reduce those things that might pull your focus away.  That could include unnecessary meetings, side projects, or even conflict with other people. Protect your physical, mental, and emotional resources so you can give yourself and your team the attention they need during this season.

Final Thoughts

Driving on the left wasn’t easy—but I did it. I’ll never forget the amazing scenery and memories made along those hedgerow-lined roads. I think about all I would have missed out on if I didn’t find a way to change.

In full disclosure, I did tell Lisa to make a list of all the countries she wants to visit where they drive on the left side of the road. I plan to make them a priority in the next few years before I forget what I learned and my age starts working against me. 👴

❓What’s a change you are facing or wanting to make right now? Which of the five reminders do you need to embrace to start cruising down the highway to success… regardless of which side of the road you might be driving on?