CHANGE MANAGEMENT

Dealing with Change

In life, change happens, whether we like or not, on the personal and professional fronts. 

Changes can be positive or negative. Completing studies and entering the job market is a
positive change indicating personal growth. Other transitions such as marital status from
single to married, change in job status owing to a promotion at work, are positive too. A
relationship break-up or death of someone close comprise negative changes. 

Routine and known territory is always preferable to most people because of its predictability.
It is a safe haven most would not like to leave. Change upsets this stability. 

While some people easily accept and adapt to change, others react with fear/ panic/
retaliation. Whether we adopt the ‘fight’ or ‘flight’ approach depends on our mind set. Those
who chose to run away may lose out on a great opportunity. The right way to go is to see the
change as an opportunity to learn from and grow, and not allow it to distract us from our
goals. Rather, we should maintain a positive outlook, be open to change, and find a way to
turn the change into an advantage. Turning change into a success may take time, so stay
focused on your dream, be patient, do not compromise on your values and belief system, and
success will be yours. 

It is not necessary that you will like the change; it’s just that you will have to figure out how
you can still accomplish your goals in the new scenario. 

If you are unsure of how to deal with the change, write down different ways of tackling it.
This will help you focus on the best result for you. Meditate, pray – while the first will give
you clarity of thought, the latter will show you the right path. 

There are certain types of changes that you can do nothing about. The most striking example
is death of a loved one. Such a change where you lose someone permanently, can be scary
and unsettling. In such cases, simply accept the fact – one you cannot change. Use the
circumstance to reflect on what was, appreciate the value of the person, and prepare for a
future without that person. Accept the fact, hard though it may be, and move on.
Every dark night is followed by sunrise; every bare tree, after winter, bears flowers with the
onset of spring. Never give up on hope and positivity and you will be able to win over change
and its challenges. 

There are also changes that you initiate or volunteer to bring about in yourself or your
circumstances. For instance, giving up alcohol or smoking because you’ve realized that it will
only spoil your health. Or making up your mind that you will replace your negative attitude
with a positive one. Strong will power, determination and persistence are required to make
this happen. These are exceptional cases where you embrace change. You make change
happen rather than waiting for change to happen to you. More often than not, those who
practise this are productive and successful people, achievers in their field of work. 

Typical responses and coping with change: 

It is very natural for any human being, however strong otherwise, to feel sadness, despair,
grief, helplessness, anger, or other negative emotions when faced with change. Allow
yourself some time during which to vent your emotions, to gather yourself together, and to
work out a way of dealing with and adapting to the change in order to move on. 

You may feel lost, lonely and vulnerable. Ask family and friends for advice, pray for spiritual
help and use all your strengths to garner the courage to make the change work positively for
you. It’s all about tackling the change, adapting to it, and getting a control on your life. 

Exercise, meditation, enough sleep, a balanced diet, and time to relax prevent/ heal stress.
Adopt these healthy ways to stay calm and composed so as to handle change with a clear
mind.  

Staying aware helps you know in advance of changes coming your way, thus preparing you
to cope better. 

Accept the fact that change is a constant part of life and therefore, learn to adapt. No matter
what changes come your way, stay rooted in your beliefs, look at the bright side of the
change, and the best will come to you, making you a stronger, more confident person.

To implement a change in an organization successfully, the following points need to be

considered by the leaders:
  Communication is crucial. Announcing the change, explaining the change, the reasons
for it, the benefits thereof, and the risks of not adopting, all need to be put across.
 A clear and specific plan for training/ guiding the employees to incorporate the
change is necessary, with support throughout the process. 
 Resistance/ resentment from some employees is expected as change is not accepted
smoothly by all. If there isn’t a set of resistance management techniques in the
company, leaders should be open to talks to understand why there is resistance and
then find a constructive approach to convince the employee of the up side of the
change. 
 Constant feedback from the employees regarding the implementation of the change is
a useful way to remove hindrances and make the adoption a smooth-sailing and
enjoyable process for all. 

As employees, the best ways to deal with change at the workplace are as follows:

 Staying alert and up-to-date with the goings-on in the company. This way, you will
come to expect change rather than have it come your way unexpectedly.
 Being open to change and being flexible. Do your best to adapt and adjust to the new
environment. 
 Communicating your fears and doubts to the seniors. Clarify doubts about the
workings of the new procedures/ processes.
 The sooner you adapt, the more promising and secure your future will be in the
organization.