"Finding the Up in Upheaval"

They say that change is inevitable and at the same time, researchers tell us that most people don’t like change. What a paradox! How do we cope with something we dislike but that will happen anyway?

As Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius, said, “The Universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.”
Apparently, way back in the year 161, Emperor Aurelius knew the same thing – that the Romans resisted change even though it was a fact of life, part of being a human being living in this Universe.

Undoubtedly, you’ve seen numerous changes occur in your workplace – hiring, firing, layoffs, new management, mergers, acquisitions, new products, added territories, and the list goes on. With or without our support, it will happen – our employers and clients will become different in some aspect – that much is guaranteed.

Here’s the thing to remember: You get to choose how you’ll handle the next change in your life. How and what you think about it is what will make it acceptable or not - make your life better or not.

Here’s a 4 step model for dealing with organizational change from a training program called “Finding the Up in Upheaval”:
The only thing you can control about change is your reaction to it.
Before you can deal with change, you have to accept that change has/is happening.
Communicate with others to help you understand what reality is.
Look for opportunities to create the future you want.

Keep these 4 bullet points handy for the next time any change occurs. Stay calm and objectively walk through each step. Find the upside to the “downside” and your job, career, and life will be much better.

Please post your thoughts about change and ways to cope and succeed in a changing environment!