“I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is they must change if they are to get better.”
-George Christoph Lichtenberg
These days, change is inevitable.
Our world is changing faster than ever. In business, change is driven by growth, investment, management priorities, business objectives, client demands, the economy and the environment in which we operate.
In our personal lives, change can be driven by marriage, divorce, children, moves and health issues, among other factors.
The bottom line is that most people will find themselves amidst moderate to drastic change at some point in their careers and personal lives. The test is how they handle it.
“The key to success is handling change gracefully,” says Stephanie Howes, Kwantlen’s acting associate dean in the Faculty of Community and Health Studies.
Howes emphasizes that we can’t always control change, but we can control how we react to it. She offers the following tips:
- Reflect on your own situation; where you are and where you want to go. This will help you come to terms with the impending changes and decide your role.
- Be persistent. Regardless of the change, you still have a job to do. Find new and creative ways to meet your obligations.
- Be flexible. Change can be difficult, and we don’t always know what’s around the corner. Realize that there may be shades of grey in the black and white memo you received about the change you face.
- Stay positive. A positive attitude does the body and mind good.
- Have an open mind. Don’t dismiss new processes or policies until you’ve fully explored them. They probably make sense to someone, and will perhaps make sense to you, too.
- See the big picture. Change can be very expensive, so always keep in mind that there is probably a very good reason for the changes you face.