What do we do with ourselves to prepare for change as the economy continues to run like a rollercoaster?
We need to think about changes in our professional and private lives. I personally don't believe our economy is as bad as we think it is, but we should always be ready for change so that we are prepared when it occurs.
In lean times, most employees are worried about being downsized, laid off or just plain let go. While some of those things may happen again, we should ready ourselves by being prepared for the evolution of change.
One of the books I received some time ago, entitled "Take Action!" was written by Susan Bixler and Lisa Scherre, two top executives in professional image development. Their book focuses on communication needs of corporations. One area of interest to me was the 18 proven strategies for advancing in today's changing business world.
In the chapter titled "Embrace Change," they talk about change being inevitable and growth being optional. We all know change is one of the few things in life that is constant.
Change always has an impact on us. The reality of it, is life is about change.
We can plan for a certain amount of change, but most of us don't fathom the fact itself. We fear change because it gets us out of our comfort zone.
The authors created an outline on how to prepare for change before it comes along unannounced. Here is their nine-step "Action Plan" to help process and prepare for change:
• Identify three situations in your personal or professional life you want to change. What is your desired outcome for each of these changes? Once you figure that out, identify the steps you need to take for each change and desired outcome, and write them down. For 21 consecutive days, concentrate on reaching your goals. To keep motivated, remind yourself of the better future in store.
• View change as a process, but also make it manageable. Take note of the benchmarks along the path to your desired outcome. Keep in mind that change rarely means moving directly from point A to Z. You should approach Z by first visiting points B, C, D, E, F and so on.
• Replace old habits with new ones. If your day would be more productive by arriving at the office an hour earlier than you do now, commit to being in the office at a specific time and write down the additional accomplishments you make each day.
• If your week would be more productive with more planning, reserve an hour or two on Sunday evening as your regular weekly planning time.
• If two more sales calls a day will make a difference for your business, set your goal higher, log the additional calls in your planner and record the progress you make. At the end of the month, calculate the difference those extra calls made to your bottom line.
• If reading The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and your local daily newspaper each morning will enhance your business acumen, schedule the first 30 minutes of your day to at least read the headlines, articles pertinent to your business and anything that relates to your customers.
• If you determine that to remain competitive you need as much information about your existing clients as you can get, log onto the Internet every morning and search out relevant articles on your customers.
• Identify value and opportunity in change. If you can't see the value, get input from others. Sometimes it is difficult to recognize that change is good for you. If your boss recommends you for a transfer that you don't think will benefit you, determine if this is an area of potential that you have overlooked.
• Identify your business deficiencies by determining your true business fears. What do you avoid the most? What creates the most anxiety for you? What causes you to lose sleep? Once you identify these things, fix your deficiencies. If they include lack of technology skills, take technology training courses. If your writing is poor, read a book on business writing skills and practice, practice, practice. If you are working with a new customer or marketplace, do your homework on the Internet, with the chamber of commerce, professional organizations and your coalition of professional friends.
Taking action, even in small steps, counteracts fear, helplessness and lack of focus. Moving forward is powerful! It's up to you.
While the economy is trying to grow, know that growth will entail significant change to many of us in the workplace. If you find the steps above helpful, you might want to buy a copy of "Taking Action!" and read about the other 17 steps. It is available at your local bookstore from Fawcett Columbine Publishing in New York.
We need to think about changes in our professional and private lives. I personally don't believe our economy is as bad as we think it is, but we should always be ready for change so that we are prepared when it occurs.
In lean times, most employees are worried about being downsized, laid off or just plain let go. While some of those things may happen again, we should ready ourselves by being prepared for the evolution of change.
One of the books I received some time ago, entitled "Take Action!" was written by Susan Bixler and Lisa Scherre, two top executives in professional image development. Their book focuses on communication needs of corporations. One area of interest to me was the 18 proven strategies for advancing in today's changing business world.
In the chapter titled "Embrace Change," they talk about change being inevitable and growth being optional. We all know change is one of the few things in life that is constant.
Change always has an impact on us. The reality of it, is life is about change.
We can plan for a certain amount of change, but most of us don't fathom the fact itself. We fear change because it gets us out of our comfort zone.
The authors created an outline on how to prepare for change before it comes along unannounced. Here is their nine-step "Action Plan" to help process and prepare for change:
• Identify three situations in your personal or professional life you want to change. What is your desired outcome for each of these changes? Once you figure that out, identify the steps you need to take for each change and desired outcome, and write them down. For 21 consecutive days, concentrate on reaching your goals. To keep motivated, remind yourself of the better future in store.
• View change as a process, but also make it manageable. Take note of the benchmarks along the path to your desired outcome. Keep in mind that change rarely means moving directly from point A to Z. You should approach Z by first visiting points B, C, D, E, F and so on.
• Replace old habits with new ones. If your day would be more productive by arriving at the office an hour earlier than you do now, commit to being in the office at a specific time and write down the additional accomplishments you make each day.
• If your week would be more productive with more planning, reserve an hour or two on Sunday evening as your regular weekly planning time.
• If two more sales calls a day will make a difference for your business, set your goal higher, log the additional calls in your planner and record the progress you make. At the end of the month, calculate the difference those extra calls made to your bottom line.
• If reading The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and your local daily newspaper each morning will enhance your business acumen, schedule the first 30 minutes of your day to at least read the headlines, articles pertinent to your business and anything that relates to your customers.
• If you determine that to remain competitive you need as much information about your existing clients as you can get, log onto the Internet every morning and search out relevant articles on your customers.
• Identify value and opportunity in change. If you can't see the value, get input from others. Sometimes it is difficult to recognize that change is good for you. If your boss recommends you for a transfer that you don't think will benefit you, determine if this is an area of potential that you have overlooked.
• Identify your business deficiencies by determining your true business fears. What do you avoid the most? What creates the most anxiety for you? What causes you to lose sleep? Once you identify these things, fix your deficiencies. If they include lack of technology skills, take technology training courses. If your writing is poor, read a book on business writing skills and practice, practice, practice. If you are working with a new customer or marketplace, do your homework on the Internet, with the chamber of commerce, professional organizations and your coalition of professional friends.
Taking action, even in small steps, counteracts fear, helplessness and lack of focus. Moving forward is powerful! It's up to you.
While the economy is trying to grow, know that growth will entail significant change to many of us in the workplace. If you find the steps above helpful, you might want to buy a copy of "Taking Action!" and read about the other 17 steps. It is available at your local bookstore from Fawcett Columbine Publishing in New York.