Change is inevitable! The world seems to be changing so fast that no one could be wrong all the time, even if they tried. The simple fact is that nothing in life can overlook it, especially us human beings. We can do our best to avoid it like the plague, overlook it as FLS (first love syndrome) where we hear no evil, see no evil, feel no evil; or, in the best of cases, pretending that we are “fine” and that it is nothing more than an undetectable flaw on the radar screen. So we delude ourselves into believing that our shortcomings are minimal; therefore undetectable and will eventually resolve themselves. Wake up friends! One sage said that “even nostalgia is not what it used to be”. Surely our faults will discover us. Don’t you know that they are usually the cause of our disappearance?
Charles F. Kettering said that “the world hates change, but it is the only thing that has brought progress.” As individuals of varying degrees of entrepreneurial ability, we MUST realize that the “C” word is unavoidable. Let’s face it, time waits for NO man. The seasons change for a reason; the old becomes new and the new becomes old. It is a process that arises thanks to TIME, and my friend, TIME does not respect people. He does not wait for anyone, not even in the business world. We can fight it with all our might, but eventually we’ll lose the battle, get an extension, or go extinct if we’re not careful.
Change is the mother of all directional processes in the business world. We can accept it, lie in bed with it, or leave it. It doesn’t matter who or what we are. Everyone MUST make a decision, it is up to us. Sometimes it is like a runaway train waiting for no one; young or old, linked or free, experienced or inexperienced, excellent or inadequate; much less small, medium or large business places. Take, for example, the current presidential race. President Hopeful, Senator Obama believes that the current administration has made a “mess” of things; is asking for a regiment of CHANGE. Americans listen and believe you. The question is: what is our disposition when change is inevitable in our lives? How do we handle it?
Here are ten (10) steps or recommendations to help combat change in any place of business:
1. Visualize a plan for success and implement it.
2. Keep a journal or folder (or both) of your accomplishments (personal or business). It acts as a thermometer to let you know if you are on the right track or not. If not, it will remind you to take action.
3. Please review and update it frequently.
4. If you decide to make and keep a portfolio, you can use it as a “show and tell” tool when you are at your next promotional interview.
5. Tell yourself that technology is your friend. Despite what others may say, stay current and ahead of your office counterparts. Use it when you can. It will only make you look more credible to the powers that be.
6. Whenever there is strong resistance to CHANGE (you or others), carefully examine yourself and look back at your goals or objectives for life. If these changes are unavoidable, there must be a reason for your opposition. Perhaps the required exchange rate is not part of your overall goal. If yes, then there is incompatibility, so you need to go ahead. However, if there are none and these changes are for the best, gather all the courage you can to improve. Part of success is changing with the times.
7. Know the type of change you are facing and the best way to handle it.
8. Never compromise your values. In the end, you must live with yourself, with no one else.
9. Change MUST be “for the best.” Anyone experiencing ‘the worst’ must remove himself or herself or be removed from the equation. There is incompatibility.
10. Change is best served when it is “bought”, not when it is forced. Collaboration is the best way to do it.
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