Janina Mütze. Photography by Rica Rosa.
Change is a constant – and yet it triggers insecurity or even fear in many people. Why is change so difficult for us? How can our society find a better way to deal with change? Janina Mütze, co-founder and managing director of Civey, one of Germany’s leading platforms for digital opinion research, talks to Christian Bracht about the challenges of transformation, the influence of politics and business, and the role of the individual in a rapidly changing environment.
CHRISTIAN BRACHT Ms. Mütze, change is everywhere, but many people find it frightening. Why is that?
JANINA MÜTZE Change is not necessarily a bad thing, but it does mean an initial loss of stability. If we accept that we are entering a period of transformation – and I think it is safe to say that this is the case – then we must become better at formulating clear objectives for this period. That is, we need to explain why we are changing, where this change originates, why it is happening now, and what kinds of results we may hope for. Security is a deeply rooted need. Change often means insecurity, a loss of control. Our surveys currently show that people’s sense of insecurity is higher than ever. At the same time, positive emotions such as confidence, hope, or gratitude are declining. The problem is that change is often announced without a clear vision for a desirable outcome. People do not know what to expect from this change. This leads to collective insecurity.
CB Has there been a comparable period of change in history?
JM The sheer number of areas all affected by change simultaneously right now is new in this form. We see geopolitical changes paired with digitalisation as well as upheaval in the world of work. Beliefs or tenets of faith that have been established over several generations are crumbling, which makes this a unique moment in history in my opinion. If we look at post-war Germany, there was always the promise that things would get better. Now, for the first time, there is a generation that believes their lives will be worse than those of their parents. There is a rift in our societal self-image.
"Politicians also must learn how to regain trust, because trust in state institutions is rapidly dwindling. To ensure a functioning society, citizens must feel represented and taken seriously by their government again."
CB Disruption is a buzzword of our time. Does real change have to be disruptive?
JM Not necessarily. Disruption can be productive, but it does not always have to manifest as a radical break. What we see in the US – massive restructuring of government agencies, broad-scale overnight layoffs of civil servants – does not apply to Germany. But here in Germany, too, calls for acceleration are growing louder. Many would like to see decisions being implemented more consistently. We do not always need big revolutionary concepts, but we do need to become more courageous and pursue clearer strategies.
CB What are the three most important steps for successful change?
JM First: a convincing vision. People need to know what they are working towards with change. Second: real momentum. Change must be tangibly driven forward. Third: acceptance and a sense of success. People only accept change if it brings recognisable benefits.
CB Should politicians discuss change more frankly?
JM Yes, politicians must act more decisively; they must provide certainty rather than abandon people to brood over dystopian information. Many parties’ programmes are far too vague, which is a problem. A radical vision for the future is needed, and it is almost irrelevant which strategy politicians choose as long as they pursue it consistently over the years.
CB You said that politics needs to be more courageous. What specifically should change?
JM Politicians need to communicate more honestly that we are witnessing a fundamental transformation. Rather than fearmongering, they need to explain our current reality. Too many party manifestos make unrealistic promises. Instead, we need a long-term strategy for business development, digital transformation, and the future of work. This strategy must be pursued consistently. Politicians also must learn how to regain trust, because trust in state institutions is rapidly dwindling. To ensure a functioning society, citizens must feel represented and taken seriously by their government again.
Christian Bracht. Photography by Kristian Schuller.
CB You observe social moods very closely. Do you think Germany is ready for radical change?
JM The pressure for change is enormous. I do believe that our society is capable of courageous decisions – if there are clear goals. People feel that ‘business as usual’ no longer works. But we must shape change in such a way that it is perceived not as a threat but as an opportunity. We must communicate clearly which changes are necessary and, above all, what long-term gains these changes will bring to all of us.
CB Fear of the unknown is one of the biggest hurdles for change. How can society learn to see change as something positive?
JM Through honesty – honesty as a concept. It is interesting to observe that in so many countries – especially in Germany – the concept of truth is no longer relevant. We no longer have one truth that we can all agree on and that we then use as a basis for working towards solutions. Instead, we now must learn how to deal with different truths. Honesty could be a way forward.
CB If we talk again in ten years’ time, what do you think will be the biggest change that will occupy us as a society?
JM That is hard to predict, but I think at some point we will have to address the question of what significance human work still holds. Artificial intelligence will replace many jobs, including highly skilled professions. The challenge for society will be how we make this change socially acceptable. At the same time, the geopolitical order will continue to shift. The stability we have long been accustomed to may well change in the coming decades.