|
Article from ST Recruit, 8th May 2004
POSITIVE ABOUT CHANGE
Much as you may want to resist it, the tide of change spares no one. But you can manage it well and harness it for good, says career coach PAUL HENG.
Human beings, being what we are, are usually apprehensive and resistant to change. However, given the fact that the only constant in this world is change, we could all do well to learn to not only accept change, bu7t also to embrace it. For only with this mind-set can we move ahead as a strong team, be it at work or as a nation.
Here are some quick pointers on effective change management.
Adopt a fresh mindset
The mind controls everything we can ever do with our body. Hence, it makes a lot of sense for us to begin effective change management by getting our mind to adopt a different mindset – to learn to accept and embrace change as part and parcel of our lives.
Change takes time, just like habits take time to form. Living a healthy lifestyle can only be possible if you condition your mind to accept healthy eating habits and have a regular exercise regime.
The mind is a very powerful part of our make-up – learn to use it, and to use it to the best of your advantage.
Focus on the positive
If change affects you positively, it should be more readily accepted.
However, the challenge is when change is likely to impact you negatively. Learn not to focus your attention on reasoning out the change: “Why does this have to happen? What wrong did I do?”
Involuntary job loss is one such example.
Many times during my initial counseling session with my corporate-sponsored outplaced candidates, I spent a great deal of time listening to them talk, reason and analyze the possible reasons why they have been affected.
Although it is good to let them pour out their anger and bitterness, many will eventually come to the realization that there is absolutely nothing that they can do to reverse their ex-employer’s decision.
It makes sense at that point to help these individuals focus on the challenges ahead, and what opportunities the change can bring upon them.
For many of these cases, the perceived negativity of the job loss eventually became a positive one.
They may end up with a lower-paying job, but in essence, they gain by having a better work-and-life balance, spending more time with their spouses and children which they might not have been able to do when they were busy with their former jobs.
Build a support network
Like most situations in life, it is always good to surround yourself with a network of people who are mutually supportive and able (and willing) to see each other through challenges presented by change.
If you do not have such a network, it is wise for you to start building one now. Like networking, be prepared to “give” as much as you would like to “take” from this group. Only then will you be able to get the most benefit out of each other’s support.
No more permanence
When change occurs, make plans to react, and hopefully, benefit or profit from it. However, do not cast these plans in stone.
Learn to accept that change is ongoing, and there is no such animal as “permanence” these days.
Learn to function and live effectively in a state of constant flux.
Learn to accept that in between black and white, there is a shade of grey. And accept that it is okay to constantly shift your goalposts, to adapt to the changing world.
So if you are still working, prepare yourself for the day when you have to leave involuntarily. Always have a Plan B in place. If you have just lost your job, be prepared to lose your next one. If you have just found a new job, be prepared to lose it again.
If you are entering the workforce, welcome to a career of multiple jobs!
Identify a mentor
Besides having a supportive network around you, it is also useful to identify a mentor, especially one who has proved to be successful in managing change himself. Use this individual as a role model.
Since our young days, we have grown up embracing the concept of attaining personal success, and identifying role models to motivate us towards our success.
For example, actor Christopher Reeves of Superman fame has served as a role model for people who are suffering from spinal cord injury.
Despite being confined to a wheelchair, he continues to be in the limelight, championing worthy cause after worthy cause.
Nearer home, we have many successful corporate and business leaders whom we can consider choosing as our role model.
Some of these successful people were, at one time, failures to begin with.
Give yourself time
The positive management of change is mostly about managing the emotional aspects of change.
As such, it will definitely take time for you to react and adapt to the change so do not be too harsh on yourself.
Allow yourself sufficient time to manage your emotions.
There is a change-management model called the “Take-Charge” model.
Essentially, it advocates that to enhance your chances of successful change management, you must allow yourself to take control of the situation, identify what outcome you would like to derive from the change, and then work your emotions around this positive outcome so that you have a good chance of achieving it.
Some recent changes that have come upon us, whether we like it or not, include the discovery of a new planetoid, “Sedna”, which may mean we have to revise our conception of there being just nine planets in our solar system.
Perhaps this may not have a big impact on many of us. But there are changes everywhere around us.
Even the MacRitchie Reservoir trail that I have been pounding most weekends for the past five years or so has seen changes.
We now have a boardwalk – no more dirty shoes, especially when it rains.
However, with this change, I have also noticed fewer monitor lizards and harmless snakes during my walks – where have they gone?
Such is change, good for some, bad for others.
But it does not have to be bad for you, if you choose to manage it differently.
Article contributed by Paul Heng, managing director of NeXT Career Consulting and founding president, Asian Association of Career Management Professionals.
Website: www.nextcareer.net
E-mail: paulheng@nextcareer.net
|
Programs 