Four Rooms of Change® Deputy Director, Drusilla Copeland, shares her perspective on the thirty years' success of the program.
After more than thirty years of "handing over" the Four Rooms of Change® to our clients and customers and certifying close to 2,000 people worldwide in its use, we know that “it just works”!
The Four Rooms of Change is a theory that deals with change; exploring what happens with people and organisations in transition and with how they can influence the change process by taking responsibility for their emotions and actions.
The model was developed by the Swedish psychologist, Claes Janssen, in the late 60s and early 70s as part of his groundbreaking research on individual and societal censorship. The four rooms, or, the four psychological states of mind, are: Contentment, Self-Censorship, Confusion and Inspiration. A person using the Four Rooms theory can answer the question, ”Which room am I in?” and explore their options, on their own and together with others.
We have seen the Four Rooms of Change used to build better teams and to cascade a new vision, mission, and strategic plan. It works to help the leadership team answer tough questions. With the help of a certified practitioner and one of the Four Rooms’ analytical instruments you and your team can better understand “What is behind these numbers?”
A few years back, a certified practitioner was working with two organisations that were coming together in a merger. The Four Rooms of Change allowed the teams to establish a common language for how they were responding to the changing environment, and what they wanted to do about it.
Many organisations use the Four Rooms of Change as the framework on which their change activities play out. This is because it helps people better understand the emotional side of change as it evolves during long-term, whole-system change. The Four Rooms of Change offers the stability that is necessary in a turbulent environment.
We are often called into organisations to deliver the Four Rooms when clients are making a leap of faith. They are moving from one level to the next, and if they fail, there is no going back, no place to return. As one client in this situation said, "If we fail to achieve this new future, we are done as a company. There is simply no way back."
By utilising the Four Rooms of Change, we can face fear, work through confusion and conflict to find new hope, new inspiration and a new way forward. We become ready to complete our journey and step back into the Contentment room.
Want to find out more?
SenateSHJ is delighted to offer two free online sessions introducing the Four Rooms of Change to those who might be interested in becoming certified in its use.
When and where: 3pm to 5pm, Tuesday, 13 June 2023
3pm to 5pm, Wednesday 12 July 2023
Bookings essential: eventbrite.com