by Angela Ware
All around us there are signs of individuals and industries adjusting to change. The housing market, auto and finance industries are all relevant and national examples. Our current president-elect campaigned under the axiom of change. We are being reminded that change is the normal flow of life. As proof, I offer the seasonal fact that at this moment autumn is giving way to winter.
Many of us have heard the adages “change is inevitable” and “change is good.” If these statements are true, why is it that so many of us find it difficult to change? Why after change has occurred do we often hear people say, “I didn’t see that coming?”
Well, it’s not that we didn’t see it coming; rather we were reluctant or unwilling to move from a place of knowing to a place of learning and/ or trying something new.
Like many in our current economy, I was laid-off once. Can you say, “Change?” Now, in as much as this situation forced me to change, it also revealed a long thought truth: Preparation is the number one resource needed during times of change.
If your situation of change is coping with the peeks and valleys of industry, being placed on a new project at work, a new position within your company or the newly elected leader of the free world, you can only speculate as to what the actual change will entail. You must allow yourself the freedom to prepare for the possibility of what’s to come. Therefore, I would like to offer the following four tips that have served me well in times of change.
· Prepare daily - read blogs, articles online or in magazines and/ or the newspaper on a daily basis in an effort to remain current with your industry or an industry that you are interested in transitioning to.
· Invite discussion – join a professional society or networking group in an effort to build relationships and enhance your understanding and communication skills regarding your profession.
· Continuously seek opportunities for training and certification – the more you are skilled at doing increases the amount of what you are capable of doing!
· Remain organized – keep your current and long-term goals in front of you and keep your information organized for effective access. When change falls your way being organized will allow you to keep your mind clear and focused.
Now, go out and embrace change!
Friday, November 14, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Practicing for Hard Times
by Alison Chapman
During tough times, we should try to keep a handle on our mood and energy levels if we hope to maintain our work life balance and achieve success. Some people are hardwired to respond to things optimistically, others are simply wired differently. Fortunately, we can improve our chances of staying resilient and hopeful by acquiring positive thinking skills.
The process of building optimism and positive thinking is similar to working out. You have to focus on your goals and commit your time to it. If you approach a workout program with that focus, then you can improve your fitness and the ability to successfully reach goals. Similarly, if you approach improving your resilience this way, you can improve your ability to think positively.
The first hurdle to get over is realizing that you need to change your way of thinking in order to think positively. You can not change the person you are but understand that you can get overwhelmed and anxious at times, which is okay. Do not complain about how you are feeling but realize that you have the power to control your work/life balance. Start thinking this way immediately, not only when you decide you are ready or when it’s convenient. Do your best not to interpret your progress in the short term, just as you should not measure an increase in strength and endurance after a single workout. However, you should take note that you will see a small change in the short term that will eventually build to envelope your whole self and the changes that will come about as an end result of the process.
People who think pessimistically tend to dispute the positive and accept the negative. People who are optimistic tend to assume that their life balance will be restored, good events will eventually occur and that bad events are an exception. You have to work at restoring your work life balance so that you will have good events and avoid the bad ones. We should all strive to be optimistic so we can continue to maintain work life balance and be successful.
During tough times, we should try to keep a handle on our mood and energy levels if we hope to maintain our work life balance and achieve success. Some people are hardwired to respond to things optimistically, others are simply wired differently. Fortunately, we can improve our chances of staying resilient and hopeful by acquiring positive thinking skills.
The process of building optimism and positive thinking is similar to working out. You have to focus on your goals and commit your time to it. If you approach a workout program with that focus, then you can improve your fitness and the ability to successfully reach goals. Similarly, if you approach improving your resilience this way, you can improve your ability to think positively.
The first hurdle to get over is realizing that you need to change your way of thinking in order to think positively. You can not change the person you are but understand that you can get overwhelmed and anxious at times, which is okay. Do not complain about how you are feeling but realize that you have the power to control your work/life balance. Start thinking this way immediately, not only when you decide you are ready or when it’s convenient. Do your best not to interpret your progress in the short term, just as you should not measure an increase in strength and endurance after a single workout. However, you should take note that you will see a small change in the short term that will eventually build to envelope your whole self and the changes that will come about as an end result of the process.
People who think pessimistically tend to dispute the positive and accept the negative. People who are optimistic tend to assume that their life balance will be restored, good events will eventually occur and that bad events are an exception. You have to work at restoring your work life balance so that you will have good events and avoid the bad ones. We should all strive to be optimistic so we can continue to maintain work life balance and be successful.
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