Managing Change: Unshakeable Success
Nothing ever really stays the same for long. This is especially true in business as people come and go, consumer interests change, and the world overall has its shifts. The thing about change is that it is always the beginning of new opportunities. If you look at your life right now, everything you’ve established had a beginning which ultimately was a result of the change.
The tricky thing here is that change often throws us off balance and it can be hard to navigate. Yet change is inevitable and we need to be prepared to handle it. The ability to do so starts with exactly that, anticipating change. Finding the positives won’t happen immediately, but this doesn’t mean you wait for them to present themselves. Actively searching for ways to make the most of your current situation is the starting point of success.
Consider for a moment the difference in your attitude when change is imposed on you compared to when you decide to make a change. Well, one of course can feel like a punishment, it can be “this person's fault” or “just your bad luck”. Now the other is very different, it’s empowering and we look at it as something that’s going to be of great benefit. So how can you start to recognize change like that? Well, it starts with you being your own leader. Guiding yourself is the first step before you can even consider leading others.
Going to this place where you can evaluate the situation with a clear mind is an executive skill that will no doubt serve you well. However, you still need to take action, so here are some things you can do:
Rectify The Situation
Once you’ve acknowledged the areas that aren’t going to serve you as a result of the change, begin looking for ways to mitigate them. This is important early on because the longer you let problems sit, the bigger they tend to become. For example, if you have a delivery that’s supposed to go to a client but the shipment gets cancelled.
The best thing to do is notify your clients immediately and begin searching for answers. This is opposed to getting mad at the situation, waiting for updates while the deadline gets closer, and then choosing to notify at the last minute. In short, you can be frustrated with change but don’t expect any problem to solve itself— you have to create your ideal.
What Can You Build On?
Shifting from problem-solving mode, what does this change present that could benefit other aspects of your life or business? The shift to remote work was a prime example of taking advantage of change for some. Some people lost their jobs and found better jobs or became entrepreneurs. This is of course a radical anomaly but it nonetheless shows the impact managing change can have long term.
Create A Vision
Action is useless without purpose. Purpose ultimately derives from having a clear vision of what’s intended through your actions. You create a vision primarily to overcome something that’s not working for you. Whatever that may be, if you know something isn’t working, you should ultimately have an idea of what could be better.
Think about the better situation. If you focus on it, you can start taking steps to bring it to life. If you are in a leadership role, ensure everyone on your team is aligned with this vision so everyone can understand the purpose of their efforts.
Conclusion
Change is in no way easy, we are naturally programmed to feel unsettled or resist when change presents itself. Fighting against this natural urge is difficult but not impossible, because ultimately our drive and ambition are stronger than our natural instincts.
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