Cope With Change

How to cope with CHANGE?

The only way to grow, they say, is to welcome and embrace change. If things do not change, they are sure to stay the same. Staying the same will not be good enough to not only survive but thrive in the future.

There is nothing more certain in life than change. The problem is: How do you introduce change(s) without upsetting people?

Here are some tips:

• Never introduce change unless it’s necessary or beneficial.
• Include the people who will be involved in the change from the outset. Ask for their views and suggestions. That will give them a feeling of control.
• Create a culture that rewards innovation and risk taking. People only learn by trial and error.
• As the great business expert Tom Peters suggests: Hire people who will be motivated by change or excited by it.
• Retain people who know what needs to be changed. In particular, those who can transfer change and the ideas of change
• Give people as much freedom as you can at the time of change. Rules and regulations can swamp people. They need room to cope with change. Let them breathe the change(s).
• Hold regular, short meetings after the introduction of change to see how people are coping. Ask for further suggestions to help make things run more smoothly.
• Remind people. Change is now part of life. If you do not change you will be left behind.