Organizations, departments, and people trying to stay relevant in today’s business world are dealing with change on a daily basis. It is no longer a question of “whether there is change occurring daily”, but “at what speed is it occurring in your organization, department or life?”
The process of dealing with change is in many ways similar to the process of grieving. There are steps that MUST be completed in the change process (although not necessarily in the same order each time) just as steps must be completed in the grieving process. These steps are normal, necessary and inevitable. Change could be as simple as having to adjust your route to the office because of road construction. Or change could be as complicated as leading your organization or department through a merger or consolidation. Whatever the change may be, it has an impact on us as individuals.
The main impact that is common place in all change is that change brings on stress. The stress can be positive stress or it can be negative stress. That decision lies with the individual who is experiencing the change/stress. It is important to keep the stress in a positive light by thinking of oneself as a “trailblazer of change” and not as a “victim of change”. There are steps that can be taken to proactively prepare for change and the mindset needed to successfully process the endeavor.
Next week, we will review some steps to take toward being a “Trailblazer of Change”
