by Helen Krag
Change happens – there’s no avoiding it. Do you agree with that?
What’s your view of change? Do you embrace it; look forward to the opportunities it may bring; hold the view, perhaps, that ‘a change is as good as a rest’?
Or do you dread change; struggle with the unknown; imagine the worst; and cling fervently to what is old and familiar? Perhaps the reality for you is somewhere in between.
Recognising our response to situations of change is the first step to taking control. We may not be able to ‘stem the tide’ of change, but we can certainly manage our own response to it, and potentially influence the response of others too.
Consider a change you are experiencing at the moment. Bring to your awareness the nature of this change, and the effect it has on you when you think about it. You can coach yourself through the change by answering the 4 questions. Work on your own, or partner with a buddy to keep you on track. Don’t feel you have to complete it all at once – take it at your own pace and really make sure you answer the relevant questions fully for you.
Those 4 important questions:
1. What talents and skills do I bring with me, and what new ones might I need to learn?
The chances are you already have a wealth of talents that are well suited to help you to adapt to change. When did you last successfully navigate through a change, and what skills do you possess that helped you come out on top? These could be things like an ability to see the positive aspects, or the gift of remaining calm when those around you are panicking.
Additionally, there may be new skills you need to develop in order to fully adapt to the change. Either skills that help you manage the change more effectively, or skills that help you take your business in new and exciting directions.
2. How does this change fit with what’s important to me?
Some of my most uncomfortable moments in business have been when something happens that doesn’t fit with my value set. For example, imagine that a key value for me is security. If something happens to threaten my security, the likelihood is I will find this proportionally more difficult to deal with than someone who does not value security in quite the same way as I do.
If something feels wrong about your experience of your own situation, it is useful to examine your values, and to what extent they are being met.
3. Who am I being in relation to this change, and how does it affect what I stand for?
Thinking about your own situation of change, take a few moments to write a list of phrases that describe your experience of it. Each sentence should start with I am, for example:
- I am proud
- I am flexible
- I am scared.
Write as many phrases as are applicable to you in this context.
Now consider each of these phrases in turn. Which ones no longer serve you as you make this transition? And which stand you in good stead to see it through?
What else do you need as part of your character to make the transition? Make a list of these too.
Now answer this for yourself: In what ways do I already have these latter qualities for myself in other contexts?
4. How does this change enhance my personal contribution to the groups (eg. team / workplace / clients / family / friends / community) of which I am a part?
It may sound rather grand to talk about having a purpose in life, but I do believe we all make a contribution in the work we do and the people we are. Think back to why you chose the work you do – what contribution do you want to make? Some of us may be clear about what that contribution is, and others are still figuring it out.
When changes happen to us, especially big ones, we can sometimes feel diminished, or confused, or lost. It may take some time before we can see the good in it. So it’s useful to focus on how the change can enhance the contribution we make. Putting our attention here helps us to remove ourselves from the day-to-day ‘stuff’ and consider the bigger picture.
Call to Action:
Set some time aside in your diary now to start this process for yourself. Do get in touch and let me know how you get on.
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