In these times, most employees are worried about being downsized, laid off or just plain let go. While those things are happening, we should be prepared for the evolution of change.
We all know change is one of the few things in life that is constant, and it always has an impact on us. We fear change because it gets us out of our comfort zone.
One of the many books I've received over the years, “Take Action!” by Susan Bixler and Lisa Scherrer, includes this nine-step “Action Plan” to help us process and prepare for change:
• Identify three situations in your personal or professional life you want to change and your desired outcome for each. Then identify the steps you need to take for each change and desired outcome.
• View change as a process, but also make it a manageable one. Keep in mind that change rarely means moving directly from point A to Z.
• 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 in your business, set your goal higher, log the additional calls in your planner and record the progress you make.
• If reading The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and your local daily newspaper will enhance your business acumen, schedule the first 30 minutes of your day to read at least the headlines, articles pertinent to your business and any articles that relate 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 print out relevant articles on your customers.
• Identify value and opportunity in change. If you can't see the value, get input from others.
• Identify your business deficiencies by determining your true business fears. Then fix your deficiencies.
We all know change is one of the few things in life that is constant, and it always has an impact on us. We fear change because it gets us out of our comfort zone.
One of the many books I've received over the years, “Take Action!” by Susan Bixler and Lisa Scherrer, includes this nine-step “Action Plan” to help us process and prepare for change:
• Identify three situations in your personal or professional life you want to change and your desired outcome for each. Then identify the steps you need to take for each change and desired outcome.
• View change as a process, but also make it a manageable one. Keep in mind that change rarely means moving directly from point A to Z.
• 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 in your business, set your goal higher, log the additional calls in your planner and record the progress you make.
• If reading The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and your local daily newspaper will enhance your business acumen, schedule the first 30 minutes of your day to read at least the headlines, articles pertinent to your business and any articles that relate 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 print out relevant articles on your customers.
• Identify value and opportunity in change. If you can't see the value, get input from others.
• Identify your business deficiencies by determining your true business fears. Then fix your deficiencies.