On August 12th, day will suddenly turn into night across large parts of Spain. A total solar eclipse , a phenomenon the country hasn't experienced since 1905, will cross much of the Iberian Peninsula and move towards the Balearic Islands.
This is a true gift of nature. There is no other spectacle in the sky so breathtaking and moving. For a few brief moments, millions of people will find themselves, quite literally, in the shadow of the Moon as its dark disk completely obscures the Sun. It will seem as if time stands still, as if the entire cosmos holds its breath before such a display of beauty, before such a delicate alignment of the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth.
A total solar eclipse is never forgotten , and this is something all those of us who have experienced one know very well. It's not just what you see, but also what you feel. The darkening of the sky, the drop in temperature, the appearance of stars in the sky in broad daylight, or the sudden silence of the birds are some of the sensory experiences that accompany the moment of totality.
But above all, the dominant emotion is that of feeling part of something bigger. It's as if, suddenly, you find your place in nature with a thrill that, paradoxically, combines the humility of our existence with the fortune of being. It's a collective feeling, shared simultaneously by the thousands of people around you.
The eclipse is a demonstration of perfection in celestial mechanics. The alignment between the Sun, the Moon, and our planet is perfect, though certainly ephemeral. Everything in the universe is in motion, and the same eternal movement that has allowed the cosmic order of the eclipse to be achieved will break it after a few seconds.
It's curious, because in our daily lives we don't usually become aware of the consequences of constant change until we face a truly impactful moment. Yes, we know that everything is transforming very quickly: the organizations we work for, the markets we operate in, the products and services we offer, the technology we use, and even the society we live in. But change seems so frenetic that we often find ourselves simply swept along by it, never able to take the reins and control its impact on our lives. No, we're not going to stop change, just as an eclipse is a certainty. But what we can do is prepare ourselves.
It's similar to what happens with an eclipse. If we haven't researched beforehand what actually causes the phenomenon, what to look for, and what to pay attention to as it unfolds, we won't be able to fully enjoy and appreciate these unique moments.
I was talking earlier about the emotions the sky evokes in us. Emotions! And of course, we're human, not robots. A fact we tend to forget when faced with a difficult situation and feel insecure, fearful, or frustrated, and even unfairly punish ourselves, thinking these feelings are weaknesses and that perhaps we're not up to the task.
Change management training provides knowledge and tools that are essential for navigating challenging times more efficiently and with less pain. But it also serves to remind us of our human nature and help us regain perspective on what it means to experience emotions.
Those of us who are dedicated to scientific outreach (an activity that I combine with work in the field of organizations) are striving to emphasize, using all available communication channels, the need to enjoy the eclipse of August 12 safely.
Millions of us will look up at the sun, an extremely dangerous act that can cause very serious and irreparable retinal damage. That is why we reiterate, time and again, the need to use special, certified solar viewing glasses. And, very importantly, we repeat that we must avoid homemade methods, such as X-rays, smoked glass, or welding goggles, which lead directly to disaster. Certified glasses, therefore, will be an essential item that should be part of our equipment.
Similarly, the best thing we can do is ensure that we carry the necessary knowledge in our toolkit for when that change arrives . Because it will arrive, make no mistake. A complex situation that will stress and strain us. Remember when, as children, a wave would knock us over at the beach? Well, change management training will give you the certified perspective you need to better understand the situation, analyze it, and make sound decisions.
No, don't worry. On the day of the eclipse, none of the celestial bodies involved will fall, although some tears of emotion might be shed. But there are times when it seems as if everything is collapsing around us. That's when the laws of the universe conspire to make that off-kilter project even more complicated, or to make time accelerate and rush us closer to the deadline we committed to.
Now imagine being in outer space, on your way to the Moon, inside a small spacecraft in the middle of nowhere. Any problem in that situation can turn into a tragedy, right? Well, a major problem is what the Apollo 13 astronauts faced in 1970 when part of the spacecraft exploded, leaving them with hardly any fuel or oxygen.
All the processes that NASA had so carefully documented and practiced for months collapsed in an instant. Nothing was useful anymore, and a new mission had to be designed from scratch in a matter of minutes. A mission in which the primary objective was no longer to reach the Moon, but to save the lives of three astronauts.
This is undoubtedly an extreme case. But it's so impactful and inspiring that it's become part of the methodology I use in my change management training. With this case, we travel to space, relive those tense and complex moments, and ultimately save the crew. And, of course, we reflect on and apply the experience to our everyday lives to incorporate tools and strategies that will help us better manage complexity.
I began this article talking about the emotions eclipses evoke in us. And I want to end it with emotions as well.
We are extraordinarily fortunate to participate in this experiment of nature that we call life. The cosmos has gone to great lengths to bring us here today, ready to contemplate the shadow of the Moon and the eclipsed Sun.
Constant change often makes us lose perspective . Knowing when to stop, take a breath, and consider what we truly want is an essential skill. As is, of course, appreciating the blessings of life to achieve better emotional balance.
Finally, remember that you are human , and so are others. We are not infallible, and we are certainly wonderfully imperfect (how boring would absolute perfection be!).
Well, get your spacesuit ready because I'm expecting you at the change management webinar we've called "Houston, we have a problem. The keys to managing change and complexity."
We've included all the information here:
If you want to register, here's the link by clicking here.
See you on September 18th! 🌒
Joan Anton Català
Complexity Management | Science Communicator