Recently, I found a question on one of my on-line groups inquiring about the emotional dimensions of change management for individuals and organizations. With the help of a famous opera, I want to respond to this question.
I recently listened to a recording of Puccini's "Tosca" (sung by Maria Callas) while reading the libretto. My insight from following this opera was that there are many emotions reflected in this opera through language, music and acting. These emotions are reflected serially and simultaneously. Just as a symphony intertwines a variety of themes and instruments, this opera intertwines a variety of emotions.
Understanding the emotions in this opera helps answer the change question. Both this opera and individual and organizational change have at least one thing in common - they describe real life. In Tosca, Puccini highlights the emotions of life. The emotions arising in individual and organizational change are part of real life for the people involved or the people impacted by the change. Let's learn something about emotions from visiting with the opera "Tosca" for a moment.
The context of the opera is political change in Naples which impacts the lives of the characters.Tosca is a woman capable of fully immersing herself in love and passion. This sometimes leads to irrational jealously about which she does, however, have some self-awareness. Her love also leads to great loyalty, devotion, courage and self-sacrifice. She experiences deep optimism, hopelessness and grief. Her lover Mario shows great loyalty and love for his ideals, for his friends and for Tosca. Tosca and Mario have courage and strength. They also have the ability to hate and seek justice. Scarpia, the villain, can hate deeply, lust deeply and pursue his evil inclinations with abandon. As the opera develops, these emotions seem to be intertwined and a counterpoint to one another. Each scene in Tosca reflects the power of these emotions.
My belief is that if one were to write an opera about individual or organizational change and set it up on a stage so that we, the audience, might view it with a little distance, we would similarly see many emotions in action. These emotions would also intertwine with each other, occur simultaneously and be a counterpoint to each other. These emotions would drive some actions, be a reaction to other actions, arise from human interactions and reflect the surrounding conditions. They would like in the opera, have nuances, tones, timbres and depth to them.
These emotions would at different times reflect hopelessness, resignation, optimism and ecstasy. They would be emotions of love for one's family, friends, co-workers and organization or discipline. The would be emotions of fear of change or loss or fear of things staying the same. They would be emotions arising from taking or being subject to risks. They would be emotions of excitement for what could be in the future.
To not be able to fully see these emotions in action is to miss the opera as well as what is going on for people during change. To be aware of the existence of these emotions is at the core of managing change.
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