“One can die at forty and not get buried until ninety.” Ouch! Oh my, this quote rings true when we don’t deal with change positively, whether it’s a job change, personal change or organizational change that impacts us. There are many ways and methods to respond to change positively. One approach is to become change-resilient. Its definition is “to consciously adjust with courage and confidence whenever ‘It’ happens. . . while achieving the best possible outcome for yourself, others you care about, and your organization.” The “It” is whatever the change you are facing is.
I’ve been working with a new program called “Make Change Work™ For You” that has 5 action steps in helping us become change-resilient.
Step 1: Identify and share my feelings
Step 2: Reframe my negative thoughts
Step 3: Make a plan and follow through
Step 4: Find encouragement, avoid discouragement
Step 5: Check my effect
Sounds simple? It is, but as with anything that has value, it takes commitment and a willingness to be vulnerable to implement these steps effectively. What I like about these 5 steps is that in each, you identify what keeps you “locked” and what helps you “unlock” to move forward.
Example in Step 2: Reframe my negative thoughts.
One thought and belief that may keep you “locked” is, “I can’t accept this change.”- How can I “unlock” and reframe this thought and belief? You can start saying to yourself, “I’ll accept the things I can’t change, and change what I can.”
The hard part is to begin thinking, feeling, and living with your heart that quote. This is the guided direction this program provides which to me is of great value in responding to change. And that’s what change-resilient is all about – How can I respond rather than react to change.
