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MAKING CHANGE by Barbara Davis Change is always occurring. Change is inevitable. Change offers new opportunities. If all these things are true about change, why are so many people resistant to change? Each of us is caught up in the shifting sands of change. There was a time when change occurred slowly and methodically. Change occurred so slowly we could ease into the change gradually, without any vigorous thought about the change, or even being aware that change was actually taking place. That's not true today. Today change occurs quickly - seemingly at the blink of an eye. As quickly as you can adjust to one situation, it becomes another situation entirely. I purchased a computer about four years ago. Now, my "techie" friend, whom I rely on for much of my technology information, tells me it's time to purchase another one if I want to get up to speed with today's computer technology. He said if I purchased one now, I'd be pretty well set with that computer for at least three years. Can you imagine! There was a time when you chose a job, it was yours for life if you wanted it. Once you were fitted for the position, it was pretty much yours forever. Now, with companies downsizing, rightsizing, merging and reengineering, there's a good chance your job today will be someone else's job tomorrow. Some people simply choose to be swept over by the tides of change. Some indicate this by the way they still do business, others by the way they still dress, and others by the way they communicate. Yet there are many more who chose to be prepared by sweeping along and rising with the tides of change. There ought to be a school for change, but there isn't. You have to face change head on, calling upon all the resources you have available to you. Then you must move forward and gain access to those resources you don't already have. Are you ready for change? Have you recognized there is more to running your business than simply delivering the product or service? Your competition knows. They know that pretty much everybody sells the same widget. They know the difference lies in knowing how to present the widget, the image they maintain, or how they choose to communicate with their customers in an increasingly diverse marketplace. They also know that their customer today can be someone else's customer tomorrow. They understand they must earn the right to keep a customer because competition abounds. They understand and nurture good employee relations. Many of life's changes may challenge you. You are being challenged to do things differently. You're being challenged to learn, to learn in ways you've never learned before. The skills, techniques, and resources needed today take on a whole different dynamic compared to yesterday's world. You can challenge yourself to be curious. You can challenge yourself to learn. Finally, you can choose to be a part of change. You can choose to understand and meet the changing needs of your company. You can choose to understand and meet the changing needs of your employees and customers. You can choose to be more than a manager or business owner, you can choose to be a leader. You can choose to change. If you
find yourself still wondering whether or not you will choose to change.
I leave you with these two questions: Other Articles
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