Punctuated Equilibrium: The New Normal, and the One After That

by Karen Carnahan & Marsia Gunter

It’s been a crazy roller coaster ride, the past few months, hasn’t it?

Many of our clients, adapting the best they can to radical change caused by the virus, are telling us that “they can’t wait to get back to normal.”

Well, what if we told you there may be no normal to come back to? And what if any "new" normal we get accustomed to becomes upended again in a matter of weeks or days to something completely different?

What we're experiencing right now is a period of massive global transformation caused by a dramatic change in our environment. How we're describing the situation is "punctuated equilibrium."

Punctuated Equilibrium Defined

We’re not the first to use this term as it applies to human social development. The term originated in evolutionary biology, where it refers to how the evolution of species is generally static for long periods of time until a sudden change is introduced in the environment.

Then, the evolution of the species begins to undergo rapid change and development.

The same could be said for social transformation. We may not be literally physically evolving at the moment, however, how we interact with each other, how we do business, and how we do "normal" activities of daily living has changed completely.

It would probably easier to count the shortlist of things that have stayed the same. (Not much!)

Ups, Downs, and Temporary Stability

After about two months of quarantine, we have somewhat adapted to a “new” normal while still craving the conditions of the past, before the virus hit. We instinctively search for a stable state amidst all the uncertainty.

Whatever that “stable state” might feel like, it will probably be short-lived.

Our journey might be likened to being on a bucking horse. Any momentary feeling of stability will be upended by the next kick or jump. And then we’re just trying to “stay on the horse” – or just keep up with the changing circumstances.

In short, we are still on the bucking horse, and the ride isn’t over yet. Other big changes are likely on the horizon, even if they don’t know what they are yet. You won’t be the same person when you get off the horse as when you got on.

To visually represent punctuated equilibrium, we like to use this graphic below. Those ups and downs? We're still in the middle of those.

What Now?

So. What do we do?

Well, a more useful question might be “How can we be?”

The truth is most of us don’t like disruptive change. It upsets our sense of control and throws a monkey wrench into things we thought we had handled. Plans for the future, which may have seemed more solid, now seem malleable, different, or maybe even completely obsolete.

It's okay to feel sad, panicked, fearful, angry, anxious, or stress right now. These are all “normal” reactions when you’re trying just to stay on the horse.

Cultivating and practicing useful (in other words – practical!) ways of being can help diminish a lot of our fears. Here are a few states of being that we find enormously helpful in this crisis.

Helpful States of Being During a Punctuated Equilibrium

Let’s start with a sense of calm. Stay breathing and work to maintain a sense of stillness. Despite bad things happening, you can still cultivate a sense of control, starting with your breath.

Stay resilient.  You can also help retain a sense of control by retaining optimism even after unexpected or unfortunate things happen. Realize that you are more than just your circumstances. Go for it, and stay on the bucking horse—ride it out.

Stay awake.  Keep tabs on your own emotions and actions so you can manage yourself without spinning out of control. Ask: “What’s my experience? Why do I care? How do I need to manage myself through this?”

Stay connected. Connection with others will lift your morale, and also, you may find opportunities to help each other. If there is a tangible thing you can do to help, this often alleviates anxiety. Hint: sometimes just “showing up” (from a socially responsible distance, of course) is a huge relief and help to others.

Get creative. How can you come up with new and effective ways of dealing with emergent problems? How can ask yourself “what if?”

Here’s the big one: remember you are still a leader. You can still have a vision for the future and work toward that vision despite the crisis. You don’t have to be elected, chosen, or titled to be a leader. Great leaders take turns leading and following.

There is Still a Future For Us to Build

It is a challenging time for everyone, and we cannot forget that out of this experience comes learning that can help us build a bridge to the future that is beyond our current crisis. Though some people think this kind of vision is reserved strictly for the political realm, it is really a responsibility for all of us. All of us are empowered to find a way to make this difficult time mean something, however challenging it may be.

There will be no normal to come back to because it is we who will have changed. Our perspectives will have shifted. It’s ok to not know what is going to happen next.  Stay tuned ….more to come on building a future through punctuated equilibrium.

Are you further interested in being in the mastery of growth and embracing the future for yourself, your company, or your organization? Contact us to explore the future you want to create through ongoing coaching to develop business growth strategies, professional leadership development and business ownership, and transitioning your business for the next generation. We believe in the future you envision and stand with you to help achieve it.