Taking Control of Change - Career, Lifestyle, Life

The subject of "change" is one that people react to in many ways. It is a word that can instill both fear and delight, but often when someone gets absorbed in thoughts on change it is tending towards fear. The "fear of the unknown" is something both natural and inevitable; it can come in many forms. However, to be a success in your personal life, and enjoy it to the full, understanding the need for change, and how to cope with it positively, are very important.

Change is natural because it will always happen; from the moment you are born, changes take place within you and around you, constantly. Nature is all about change, about life cycles which naturally occur throughout the world.

For people who embrace change, or even willingly seek it with eyes open, the world does not seem a threatening place. Change is a part of a natural life that such people cope with competently, and even enjoy it. Other people may be happy as they are and never face an unwanted change in their lives, so fear of change is not something that crosses their path.

For millions of people, though, a time will come in their lives when a change happens they do not want to happen. A motorway may be planned through where their lifelong home stands; the firm they have worked for 40 years goes bust and they are out of a job; someone who has done their job in the same way for 10 years, may be frightful of planned changes by management that will affect the way they have to work.

Career and Job Changes

When it comes to change, fear and anxiety being associated, it is often caused by impending, or even desired, changes to do with career and employment. The most anxious reaction to change can be strongly linked to changes in work practices, or even the threat of redundancy; sometimes both.

For a few years, I was once involved in project management on projects that substantially changed the way people had to work. Usually, staff were aware that some jobs could be lost, but mostly it was sheer fear of change, any change, that brought out the worst reactions from some people. You could tell from talking to them that they were petrified about changing the way they had to work, even if they did not lose their jobs.

Because of the nature of my work, I had to ensure that such people were counseled and encouraged to get involved in the process of change, but sometimes there was resistance. Of course, there are occasions when workers adamantly refuse to accept change, as was often the case in the UK in the 1970's. It still happens today, but change is normally better managed these days.

As someone who has always welcomed change, I would say there are several things you can do to help yourself:

1. Look upon change as an opportunity....it is. Even changes that may initially seem like a threat can be turned to your benefit, if you approach them positively.

2. If changes are expected in your working environment, get involved at the earliest opportunity. Sometimes the project team implementing those changes will need your knowledge, or even assistance. For example, for a new computer system I once installed, I sought volunteers to help input data into the new system. The more positive clerical staff jumped at the chance, and over a few months got to know the knew system quite well. Once they were pleased with what they saw, the word soon spread that the change was not such a bad thing.

3. Try to keep up to date with developments that may affect your work place, such as the industry your employers are part of, new technology and so on. Arm yourself with knowledge that will not only prepare you for change, but see it coming before those around you, and ensure you are at the top of the list of those who positively react to change and can help lead the way.

4. Looking back on my earlier years, I was wondering why it was that I have always adapted well to change and wanted to be at the leading edge. I came to the conclusion that being an independent traveler in my teens and early twenties was one of the main reasons. So, whatever your age, try traveling somewhere totally different one day; alone if possible, and not a tourist area. A different country, a different culture, will open your mind. By doing something so different, you are changing yourself, and you are in control. Once you realize you have control, then change acceptance becomes so much easier.