Who Moved My Cheese?

To start off the month of September, Sands Academy introduced Team Members to a program centered around Dr. Spencer Johnson’s Who Moved My Cheese?, a simple work place tale that reveals truths about the value of various perspectives in change management. The story follows four separate personality traits that come to life demonstrating how each handles change differently from open and accepting to reluctant and indecisive. The session encouraged Team Members to consider their personalities when-the-tables-get-turned in life and how others’ personalities compliment and challenge their own. The goal of the training was to anticipate, monitor, adapt and enjoy change.

“The goal is for people to walk away feeling they can relate to others,” licensed Spencer Johnson Group trainer Chad Dyer, Senior Manager of Organizational Development and Training, said. “They need to focus on what it takes to get on the right track and move forward. It’s most important to see if this helps Team Members in their personal and professional relationships and environments.”

In an effort to educate and guide Team Members, Sands Academy continues to offer classes that engage Team Members with new ways of dealing with everyday happenings. Guiding Team Members with The Principles of Change (change happens, anticipate change, monitor change, adapt to change quickly, change and enjoy change), they were encouraged to work together to discuss issues and ask two main questions: what excites your character about change and what scares your character about change?

“This allows us to continue to grow and gain new perspectives,” Heidi Skarr, Hotel Manager for Group Housing said. “Change is all around us and you have to see it and deal with it. You must embrace change and be informed of what’s to come.”