How the Characters in the Book Johnson\'s

¶ … Moved My Cheese?

The characters in Spencer Johnson's Who Moved My Cheese? illustrate the importance of being open and willing to change. The two mice represent the most intelligent approach to external changes in the environment. Instead of bemoaning the loss of the old, the mice (Sniff and Scurry) embrace the new because they are not afraid that the source of their happiness will ever run out. They have faith that even when it appears that supplies of the metaphorical cheese are running out, eventually some other source will arrive. Their experience is a source of inspiration for Haw, who tries his best to encourage his friend Hem to step outside the comfort zone. Hem and Haw are the two most commonly encountered characters in any agency. Although some exceptional individuals will be more like Sniff and Scurry, the vast majority of people do not deal with change as easily as the mice in Johnson's story. Most people fall either into the Hem category of resisting change, or into the Haw category of embracing change slowly and with some initial trepidation. Ultimately, Haw learns so much from his experience that he channels his fear into creative energy. Creativity and renewed energy can be viewed as the goals of learning from change.

In my employment history, I have encountered many people like both Hem and Haw. Most of my own reactions to change or challenging situations are like Haw's, because at first I panic a little but eventually I learn how to cope and adapt to new circumstances. However, I understand what Hem is going through, because he wants so badly to cling to the past. He is recalling all the good times, when the cheese was flowing freely and he did not have to work very hard to get it. Now that he has to actually move and work, seeking new cheese, he has fallen into a depression. He has too much pride to admit that he cannot do the same thing he used to do in order to get cheese from Station C.

Haw finally figures out that exploring the maze more, and making do with the new circumstances, are the ways to succeed. Whereas Haw is accepting of the crisis, Hem is not. It is clear that Haw is going to be a more successful employee, and possibly has clear leadership potential. For example, Haw takes it upon himself to write slogans on the wall so that people like Haw can have some guidance in finding the new sources of cheese. This reveals Hem's leadership potential, and his ability to be compassionate and reach out to his colleagues.

I have known people like Haw, and I believe that I most embody his qualities. Rarely have I fallen pray to the rigidity that characterizes Haw's reaction to the sudden lack of cheese. Haw's slogan, "If you do not change, you can become extinct," has become my new motto.

Sniff and Scurry always seem to be present in an organization, perhaps at the level of senior management. They seem to have advanced knowledge of where new sources of information are, and can find it easily. I would endeavor to be more mouse-like in this sense, and more in touch with the changing environment of the maze. Sniff and Scurry-types will always fare well in any organization. Johnson characterizes the head mice well. They are distant figures, and depicted as a different species from Hem and Haw. Indeed, in most organizations there is a level of leadership that is removed several layers from that of the average worker or even middle management. Yet this is not even the level at which the big decisions are being made. Johnson's book does not dwell much on the deeper issues embedded in the analogy of the mice and cheese, but ultimately it is important to remember that someone created the scenario. The cheese comes from somewhere outside of the maze.

In any agency or organization, no matter what specific field, it is always important to keep in mind the big picture. Like the characters in Who Stole My Cheese?, we might never know who exactly runs the show. This should not matter when it comes to performing to the best of our ability and being highly productive. Being a counselor sometimes entails losing sight of the overall mission of the organization, which would make the small daily challenges seem more threatening than they actually are. We are more concerned with our clients, after all. Yet it is also crucial to understand the intricacies of the organizational culture. Organizational change will affect every employee, and it is up to each employee to either embrace change like Haw or leave the company.