7 Essential Skills for Managing Change
By Mark Harrison
It’s a cliché, but change has always been the only constant. In recent times, the pace of change has accelerated greatly, and we all need to find ways to deal creatively with this fact of modern life. Leaders, in particular, need to face and manage change in a constructive way, but everyone who wants to be successful – in career, in relationships, in life – must learn how to see and manage change the way that successful ‘change leaders’ do. Such leaders are adaptable and creative, responding to change in three key ways.
1. People who respond well to change will have a high ‘ambiguity threshold.’ Change is inherently ambiguous, and those who deal creatively with change will have a high tolerance for uncertainty and ‘shades of grey.’
2. Skillful managers of change will have a constructive ‘internal monologue.’ They will see themselves as inherently powerful and having the ability to control elements of the situation in which they find themselves. Some circumstances cannot be changed, but the way we respond to them is always a choice, and we always have a sphere of influence, however small. By focusing on this sphere of influence, and not expending energy bemoaning the area outside it, the circle will start to expand and give us progressively more control. Solutions to problems always exist, and the ‘internal monologue’ should reflect the desire to find them and the certainty that they can be successfully implemented.
3. Those who deal well with change will have a good reservoir of emotional, physical and mental energy from which to draw when things get tough.
Managing Change
The above ways of dealing with change tend to be innate, with some people having a greater capacity for one or more of them than others. However, they can be learned, and the following are seven tips for improving your skills in managing change.
1. Spend time reflecting on your own core values and your mission in life. A sense of purpose is essential to success and effectiveness, and those without a clear idea of what they are doing and why they are doing it will not have the foundation to keep going in the face of change.
2. Be persistent. Success is usually more to do with tenacity that genius. Persistence is only possible when you have clarified your values and when you are able to build on the bedrock of purpose. Successful people keep going in the face of change, finding new and creative ways to achieve a positive outcome.
3. Be flexible and creative. Persistence does not mean pushing through by force. If you are unable to achieve success one way, try another, and then another. Keep looking for more creative solutions and innovative responses to problems.
4. Think outside the box. Read widely, and don’t confine yourself to your own area of ‘expertise.’ Try to see links between apparently separate and diverse elements in your life and experience.
5. Accept uncertainty and be optimistic. Life is inherently uncertain, so don’t waste your energy trying to predict the future. Of all the possible outcomes, focus on the most positive one. This is not to be a ‘Pollyanna,’ but to accept that if you respond well and work to the best of your ability, a good outcome is as likely as any other. Don’t waste your energy being negative.
6. Keep fit and healthy. Eat well, get enough sleep, exercise regularly. Meditation can help, too. This will keep up your energy levels and allow you to keep going in tough times. Not taking care of yourself physically, mentally and spiritually is foolish and short sighted.
7. See the big picture. Change is inevitable, but if you take a bird’s-eye-view of the landscape, the change won’t be so disorientating and you will keep perspective at all times.
About the author: you can download Mark Harrison’s new book, Thirty Days to Change Your Life from http://effortlessabundance.com
You might also like:
- The 5 Keys to Transformational Success
- Why a Strong Foundation is the Key to Change
- What Do You See?
- What is Success?
- 5 Fundamentals for Success in Life
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15 Comments
December 8th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Change creates challenge, challenge creates response, and response creates your future.
Change is a good thing
Best,
John
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December 8th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
2. Skillful managers of change will have a constructive ‘internal monologue.’
I love the way you put this! Our self talk is so important in life as change is inevitable. The whole list is great stuff, Peter. I good read for me in my current circumstances. I guess it was ‘timely’ as many say.
Eric.
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December 8th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Hi
Great post!
Trying to control our lives and make them constant means we limit our growth.
Juliet
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December 9th, 2008 at 8:51 am
I definitely agree with Michael that managing change begins with managing your own thoughts, feelings and reactions to change. Our natural instinct is to fear change, which leads us to make fear-based decisions in the face of change.
Learning to accept and even embrace change as a way of creating positive opportunities in your life puts you much more in line with responding in empowering ways to those changes.
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December 9th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
It is very important to think outside the box and be creative/flexible. This allows you to continuously progress and evolve. It allows you to change for the better. Change is great!
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December 9th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
You’ve touched on the most important aspects of change and dealing with it. My favorite is the high ambiguity threshold. When I took a photography class the prof pointed out that photos we call black and white actually have about 18% gray.
As soon as we get comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty, we are ready to embrace success and happiness.
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December 9th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Michael,
Thank you for this article. Change is, of course, inevitable and ever-happening. But recent events mean there are many many people whose lives are being thrown into disarray.
I like all your points, but the one that stands out to me is “#5: Accept uncertainty and be optimistic”. I don’t know about other people, but for me changes that initially appear to be bad often work out in my favor.
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December 13th, 2008 at 2:56 am
its much easier to adapt to the world then try to make it adapt to us , nice post:)
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December 20th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Hi Michael, thanks for the article
‘Keep looking for more creative solutions and innovative responses to problems’ – definitely a timeless tip that we can apply! Keep up the great work!
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January 2nd, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Number 6 is key: stay healthy and fit.
I have a more difficult time coping with change on days when I didn’t sleep well the night before or I missed my morning walk. Change takes a lot of energy.
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January 5th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Great post – I really liked the trees! Great advice all the way around
Here is another site that has some good info on change and I thought your readers may benefit
http://www.dealwithchange.com/.....-of-change
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