Understand and Learn to manage change...

“The only constant thing in life is change”.

This familiar quote sums up that nothing in life is static.  Everything is in a state of constant flux and there’s nothing we can do to stop change.  The whole world, countries, societies, companies and organizations must evolve and change to survive and so must every individual within them.

However the actual response to change and newness that occurs in the environment and the way one deals with its repercussions differ from individual to individual.  Broadly, there seem to be three types of responses to change:

Resistance:

Resistance is one of the strongest reactions to change. However not all resistance to change is confrontational and direct.  Resistance can also be passive in people who refuse to accept re-training or cannot accept new ideas and approaches.  Extreme passive resistance can be seen in people who refuse to engage in any kind of dialogue with those who have proposed a change.

Indifference:

The individual who is indifferent to change, usually views change as something going on around them.  The view of the indifferent person might be one of avoidance until some form of acceptance becomes absolutely necessary.  The indifferent person often believes that his or her world will remain unchanged and that someone else will be affected or will do what is necessary.  Apathy often accompanies this attitude to change with an “I can cope with it” mentality.

Openness and Receptivity:

These people are receptive to new ideas and prepared to embrace the reality of a situation recognizing what needs to be improved or done differently.  It is not necessarily about the desire for change for its own sake.  It is more of accepting the reality at a personal level.

Why do so many people respond so negatively to change?

In the short term, change can mean loss, discontinuity, and the destruction of a familiar and “safe” way of life…. “the good old days”. Basically change makes one leave their ‘comfort zone’ which many individuals find difficult to cope with.  Consequently it can lead to feelings of insecurity, a lack of understanding, a lack of trust and fear of the outcome. And these perhaps are some of the key reasons that lead people to reject change.

However one must take into account and focus on the positive factors that change brings in. Positive elements of change can include the creation of a better set of circumstances, the fun of being involved in something different, the opportunities presented from a new venture or means of employment.

Since you can not avoid the stress of change and you do not want to isolate yourself from positive change, you must learn to control the way you respond to these new situations.

Some pointers you can adopt to minimize the impact of change:

• Recognize and accept your limits. Remember that everyone is unique and different.


• Become aware of your reactions to change and newness.


• Make plans, but “hold your plans loosely.” Develop plans, but know that they may have to be reworked or adapted to change.


• Take the long view; realize that change takes time and you should not force yourself to make it happen too quickly.


• Take conscious efforts to change your reaction to change. Cultivate a positive attitude towards change.


• Learn some relaxation techniques.


• Pay more attention to your diet.


• Include an exercise regime in your daily schedule.

Understand and Learn to manage change...

Are you a good team member?

The buzzword in today’s corporate world is “collaboration”, and not “competition”. With super specialized jobs coming to the fore, networking with different professionals has become vital to survive in the corporate world today! Along with good technical knowledge, one also needs to possess the ability to work well as part of a team. Research has shown that teams are more successful than individuals in the following ways:

• In implementing complex plans.


• In coming up with innovative or creative solutions to problems.


• In getting breakthroughs in difficult and challenging obstacles.

What exactly is expected of you when you are working in a team? By working as part of a team, you contribute to the overall success of the organization. You work in conjunction with other coworkers to bring about this success. You have a specific and pre-designated role to perform; but at the same time, you are unified with the other members to achieve the overall targets or objectives. As a team, your chances of achieving your organization’s goals are much higher.

Yet ……. Many a time, we have seen that teams have failed miserably! Why does this happen? What are the qualities that are essential for a team to perform optimally? To begin with, an effective team should have clearly defined objectives and goals. A good team should also have unity and cohesiveness between team members. There should be a sense of being on the same side, and not a tendency toward one-upmanship!

A well functioning team also needs a good leader to lead and direct the activities of the team members, to resolve conflicts as and when they arise, to monitor the team’s progress and to see that the team is always on the right track and does not digress from its goals.

Are You A Good Team Member?

Answer the following questions to know more about your functioning in a team:

1. I prefer to work on my own. If you don’t have the ability or the willingness to collaborate with others, you are likely to be unhappy and dissatisfied in a team.


2. I like to have my work goals set by someone else. Teams are typically self-directed. If you’re more of a follower, you may feel more responsibility than you want.


3. I think other people work as hard as I do. Respect for the contributions of others is a foundation of good teamwork. If you think you’re the only one doing the hard work, you are likely to be frustrated! 


4. I like taking suggestions from others. Collaborating with others and teaching each other is the whole point behind teamwork.


5. At the end of the day, everyone is out for him/herself. On a team, success or failure will be determined by the team’s achievements, not your own.


6. I like to work with people who aren’t like me. The best teams are those that combine people with complementary, but differing, skill sets and work techniques.


7. I am more competitive than cooperative.  Some amount of healthy competition within team members is good. But if you are always competitive, it can undermine the team’s efforts.


8. I am always right. No one is! If you are one of those people who believe that they are always right, you will be resented by other team members!


9. I find it easy to trust other people. The most highly skilled individuals will be unable to accomplish anything as a team if they are unable to trust others and always suspecting the motives of other people.

Reflecting on these questions will give you some insight into your strengths and weaknesses as a team member. Remember, to be successful in today’s competitive world, it is necessary to recognize situations where you need to network and collaborate with others!


Are you a good team member?