I
don’t think anyone would disagree with the notion that change is occurring more
rapidly now than it has in the past.

I
also don’t think anyone would argue that our ability to create, anticipate, and
respond to change is crucial. 

But
how does access impact our ability to manage change?

We
can access information when, where, and how we want it. And, sometimes, it can intrude on us when
we’re not even looking for it! 

We
can access people (and they can access us) almost anytime, anywhere, and through
multiple channels.

While
this access keeps us informed and allows us to respond to change quickly, it can
also cause us to lose our focus.  

We
can get distracted by the noise.

Access,
when unfiltered and chaotic, can cause us to neglect proactively managing
change (creating and anticipating change not just responding
to it).  

We
are inundated with information through all of our access channels on a regular
basis.

Because
we have so many demands placed on us, we have shortened our attention span and
jettisoned structure.  

We
see more broadly, but not as deeply. We
don’t have the time (we don’t MAKE the time) to take stock of where we are and
insure we’re heading in the right direction.

Some
times we keep doing things we should have abandoned and abandon things we
should adjust. 

Planning
is one way to help us focus on our objectives, consider the future, and manage
our efforts more efficiently in changing times.

Yes,
the
nature of planning has evolved. Plans are more fluid. 

But
they should still embody the goals, values, and strategies that we’re trying to
realize.

A
realistic and flexible plan (or framework) can help us make accessibility our
tool and prevent it from becoming our master.