By most management practices, it is systemically common to promote any change as driven by urgency — the evolutionary necessity for an organism to evolve and survive. The real driver of change is survival itself: urgency, threat, extinction. At its core, the key mechanism is avoidance — a fear-based, extrinsic motivator. That's the naked truth.Yet we present the change as if it were an intrinsic opportunity: "It's about growth, passion, purpose!" We sell it to individuals in hope of triggering an inspiration. But when people do not respond to that narrative, we escalate the pressure: job security, redundancy, exclusion.So what starts as “inspiration” often becomes subtle manipulation — however unintentional. The line between intrinsic and extrinsic gets blurry, fast. Worse still, when the newly inspired evangelists now judge those who yet to convert to the new vision. Social divide at its best."Am I excited or just scared? Do I believe, or am I just trying to avoid the consequences?"What was meant to be authentic, self-driven transformation becomes another wave of engineered compliance confusing minds and eroding trust. And ironically, the very intrinsic motivation we were hoping to ignite fades away. A paradox.Can we still make it through? Maybe. Maybe if we’re honest, for the start. Yes — urgency exists, It's part of any system’s evolution. But let’s not disguise it — let’s integrate it into our story.We must change not because what we do is no longer good enough, but because the environment has changed. But what is really important - this urgency IS connected to something personal — our individual purpose, growth, and potential. It threatens it!Yes, it is a threat. But don’t rush me to acceptance. Let me process it, not suppress or deny. Don't judge me, i need time and support. Give me space to question, to doubt, even to grieve. I did not ask for it. And, as they say, change is loss before it becomes growth.Let me be a co-creator. Invite my inspiration. Empower me join the change with understanding, not fear. I may not align immediately — this isn't my story yet. Intrinsic motivation isn’t instant. And fear-based compliance? It’s never sustainable.So please — don’t push me with the slogans, don't roll the corporate machine over me. Let me find my own meaning in this change. The source of our unity lies not in our collective confidence, but in our shared vulnerability.It’s hard for me, just as it’s hard for you. I don’t have all the answers either. But I believe we can grow through this — together. Let me help you.Let’s be honest. What we’re living through isn’t confusion — it’s 'clarity breaking through the illusion' as they say. Urgency may be imposed, but the change must be lived through, that is the essence of the evolution.

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Timur Alimbayev

SRE / SAFe Agile Lead, Telecom IoT

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The Paradox of Change

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The Paradox of Change | Media.com