Change is sometimes welcome, sometimes unwelcome, but rarely easy. Whether it’s changes in the professional world or personal world, change is inevitable. Personally, I’ve never been good with change. Of course I understand that growth is a result of change, but that rarely makes me feel better when I find myself surrounded by it.
In order to feel better and avoid being overwhelmed by changes, I often remind myself of these three things:
Change is (often!) for the better
This doesn’t mean change is always fun, but it is often for the better. Whether it is internal processes at your job or people moving away, change offers a chance to establish something new — and potentially better.
Here’s an example: Maybe someone at your company left and there will be a gap of time before a replacement comes in to handle those person’s responsibilities. That space might provide you the opportunity to take up some of those tasks. Who knows? Maybe you’ll learn a new skill or impress yourself with the ability to manage even more responsibility. Maybe you’ve learned some new skills that could enhance your understanding of your business and industry as a whole.
There’s also the chance that you take up some responsibility and you realize it’s not one of your strengths, and that’s a win, too! Knowing what your weaknesses are is a great strength (Is that why they ask about weaknesses in every interview?). The opportunities that come from change can be such valuable learning experiences that this is always something to keep in mind.
Ask questions and look toward understanding
If there is a change happening within any organization, it’s not just for the fun of it. There has to be a reason for the change, and if you want to understand the thought process behind the change it’s always good to try and understand why the change is occurring. With all the right answers, the change may turned out to make a lot of sense. Communication is an absolute must for team leaders — and all team members — to build a greater understanding of the changes coming.
With the basic details clear, you have the chance to start asking questions. Seek understanding and learn more about how the change will affect you. Asking questions is critical (Yes, no surprise— we encourage you to ask quality questions and seek a greater understanding!). The more information you have, the better off you’ll be to anticipate and deal with the incoming changes.
And if you’ve been able to remind yourself of these previous two points, this third point will be even easier.
If it’s going to happen no matter what, you might as well embrace it right?
If change is inevitable, you might as well enjoy the ride! Do your best to see the positives in the situation and to better understand the ramifications from every angle. There will undoubtedly be unforeseen results from the change, sometimes good and sometimes bad, and they won’t necessarily happen all at once. Over time, a change may present new challenges and discoveries that will enable you to grow as a person and as a professional.
Sometimes the smallest change will make me anxious, but when I go back to these three points I feel like I can take on the change head on and weather through the storm. Truth be told, I use these reminders both personally and professionally, and they definitely make a difference.
If you want insights into how your employees or customers react to change, schedule a demo with Sogolytics. Our team can walk you through a range of powerful solutions that can help you collect the data you need to make the most informed decisions possible.
