21. class="MsoNormal"> How to Adapt to Change in the Workplace
If there's one word that captures the essence of what is occurring in the world today, it's “change.” Downsizing, reorganizing, and cutting costs, are now the norm for survival. No industry is exempt. Even the most conservative institutions are undergoing significant change just to survive.
Change management has always been an issue of debate amongst scholars: how can employers create suitable conditions for a successful change process? And what can employees do to get through it?
Tips for dealing with change in the workplace.
* Make yourself aware that change happens: it happens in personal life, it happens in your professional life. You cannot live in the past, so denying that change could occur only makes things more complicated for you.
* Stay alert in the workplace: know what is happening around you. When you come across clues that hint change is on the way, acknowledge them!
* Maintain open communication channels: Don't lay back and expect things to pass you by smoothly. You need to get acquainted with the occurring changes. Seek more details from your management and peers to form an accurate understanding of the matter. Be transparent and honest about your fears: dealing with the unknown is often resented and daunting. Make the picture as clear as you can.
* Assess yourself: Change is a time when one's confidence about one's skills and capabilities gets shaky. Recognize your strengths and where you could bring them into play. At the same time, stay aware of your developmental areas and work on improving those.
* Don't be stiff: It will make the change process much harder if you are rigid. Be flexible enough to look at the different angles of the change and see where you could apply your “existing” skills and knowledge, and what new skills you need to acquire.
* Stay optimistic: Keep a positive attitude and don't let yourself drown in uncertainty. Involve yourself in the new process; locate yourself properly in the new scenario. Adjust!
“You can't get to the top of Everest by jumping up the mountain. You get to the mountaintop by taking incremental steps. Step by step, you get to the goal”, says Robin Sharma, one of the world's most-sought-after leadership and personal success experts.