Mitigating Change Fatigue in Nonprofits: The Role of Nostalgia

Happy Friday!

Did you know that a VHS cassette of Beauty and the Beast (a first-run edition from1991) sold for $60,000 on Ebay?

Nostalgia is a powerful force, amirite Mario?

VHS has been resurgent in recent years as streaming has taken over the world.

Once a new technology makes it through the hype cycle to the plateau of productivity, the obsolete technology it replaced begins its nostalgia cycle.

What does this have to do with nonprofits?

If you’re reading this, you’re probably involved in leading organizational change in one way or another. And as you know: change fatigue is real.

Some people experience change fatigue from even the slightest change, while others may find it exciting initially. However, the effects of prolonged periods of significant change can accumulate in even the most change-happy people.

Admitting to feeling disoriented by change can be interpreted as obstructionism or self-interest (e.g. dang my job changed). But it's crucial for organizations to provide safe spaces for people to process the normal feelings that accompany change, like grief, confusion, and fear.

If you sense change fatigue creeping into your team, try creating a few nostalgia rituals to help release the pressure. For example, ask people to complete the sentence, “Can you believe we used to…”

Another option is to talk openly about the trade-offs of change. “The change allows us to do XYZ, but to do that we’ve had to let go of ABC.”

This not only helps people process their emotions but also fosters transparency and provides insight into how people are coping. It can even reduce change resistance by providing a release valve for strong emotions and change fatigue.

And speaking of change, thanks for all you do to change the world!

Drew