Managing Perpetual Workplace Changes

Managing Perpetual Workplace Changes

Change in the workplace is happening faster than ever. Jobs are being lost in almost every industry. Other countries have joined developed nations in providing services and products at competitive value. Millions have seen what used to be promising careers relegated to obsolete status by technology.

It doesn't matter whether you are an old timer or an amateur in what you do. All that matters in our jungle is to apply the lion-gazelle concept of survival. "Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up.  It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion, or it will die.  Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up.  It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death.  It doesn't matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle; when the sun comes up, you'd better be running." 

Change occurs with or without our approval or participation. Any efforts to resist the perpetual motion of change is like driving in a dead-end street-you run out of room to move ahead, and it may be hard to back-up. Workplace change has been hard as organizations keep reshaping to fit in a speedily changing world. The pain has come in the form of damaged careers, lost loyalty to organizations and distrust of decision makers.

Be Flexible: The forces, economic, political and social dynamics thrusting change to us are beyond an individual's to stop change from happening. Being flexible and quick to adjust to change is the currency we need instead of mourning on what we can't control. Ability to change is a personal responsibility.

Be Wholly Committed: You have to learn to commit 100% of your skills, experiences and knowledge to get the job done. This is not being loyal to an employer but being mindful of what will keep you marketable. It enables you to utilize your full potential and make you a valuable resource.

Own What You Do: Until one owns what he/she does, 100% commitment is dream
hard to turn into reality.  In whatever you do, you can help cut costs. You can
find ways to improve customer service or increase productivity. Think and act as if you are self-employed with no self imposed restrictions on what you do for which department. You will grow faster and become more valuable. Just make a difference.

Broaden Your Saleable Package: The only way you can protect your career and
growth is by adding value to your package of knowledge and skills. It is a
career-catastrophic move to stop learning.  Your marketability entirely depends on your
choice to consciously update your resume, gain new skills and stayed alert on
what's going on in your industry. Ian Johnson, the star running back of Boise State football team said, "When you are tackled, keep moving forward." 

Think Customer Service: We all work for customers. Customers pay our
salaries. The only job security is that customers purchase our
products and/or services. We protect our jobs when we provider better products
and/or services.  Stay close to customers so that you can monitor their needs
and expectations. Deliver better products and/or services than anyone else and
you won't have to worry about competition.

Be In-charge of Your Attitude: If you cannot be the CEO of your attitude,
morale and motivation, you have surrendered the most basic attribute of life no
one else can be responsible for. Your attitude towards life, change and how
things ought to be is the single most important factor that will determine your
productivity, marketability and personal growth. Never blame anyone else for
your attitude, growth and ability. Accept the responsibility to solve problems instead of wasting time finding someone to blame.