Ready For Change? 5 Ways to Prepare for Change

23 March 2017

Every organization should be ready for a change when they are unable to compete in the current market or are facing financial difficulties - due to advances in technology, consumer preferences or numerous other factors.

But, preparing for that change within your organization can cause some unwanted stress and anxiety.

If your workplace is deciding to go in a new direction, implementing new strategies or changing the hierarchy, we have some simple tips that will help you manage changes in the workplace.

These changes can be viewed as a threat, an opportunity, or both. How we view change significantly impacts how we respond to it and ultimately how successful we are.

If you are ready for a change, then read these useful tips:

1. Be open minded and receptive to change.

Accept and celebrate some bits of the change, explore and engage with other bits. This is key to viewing change as non-threatening and being able to thrive in it.

2. Stop and stabilise

Focus not only on what has changed but also what has stayed the same, what’s in your control and what isn’t. This will help to stabilise your reactions to the uncertainty of change and remain unfazed and unflappable.

3. Be a change entrepreneur

Take ownership of your development and be proactive. It’s down to you to make change happen so grab all new opportunities available.

4. Expand your social networks

Focus on the number and type of relationships you have. An effective professional network gives a greater tolerance for change and an increases your readiness for it.

5. Build your psychological toolkit for change

Work tirelessly towards your goals, changing paths in the short-term in order to succeed long-term. Be optimistic about the present and the future.

Believe in your own ability to tackle challenging tasks (and achieve them). Build your personal resilience so that when faced with set-backs you can learn, adapt and move on quickly.