We’ve all heard the old saying “the only thing constant in life is change”. And we know to be resilient, both personally and professionally, we have to adapt, innovate and face change head on. Change affects us all and we each deal with change differently. It’s only natural for people to fear the unknown and become stressed in a time of change, however it’s important that you try & keep an open mind & see change as an opportunity for growth.
Here is some practical advice on adapting to change in the workplace according to Bob Miglani, bestselling author of “Embrace the Chaos”:
1. Accept the new normal.
Most people tend to idealise the past, however, holding on to the memory of how things once were is counterproductive when in a state of change. As our favourite song from the movie Frozen goes, “let it go!”. Miglani states, “Let it all go. Let go of the old promises, the way we used to work, the people we used to work with, and the kind of workplace we originally signed up for. Let it go because it doesn’t exist anymore”.
2. Maintain a positive inner dialogue.
“Think more about the possibility than the impossibility”. It’s easy to feel negative towards a new procedure, particularly when we didn’t have an issue with the way things were already being done. Accepting a new point of view is not something that happens overnight, but maintaining the ability to view any potential change with a positive attitude is certainly integral to one’s capacity to adjust to new situations.
3. Rework your goals and set out to achieve them.
By setting a clear goal for ourselves, we can bring about a wonderful new mind shift that helps to direct our energy that is often wasted in so much workplace change.
4. Take charge of your own actions.
As in all aspects of life, there will always be factors within our careers which are not within our control. So, in a time of change we should focus on the tasks we can do.
5. Avoid isolating yourself.
During times of change you should reach out to your support network. Not only will this help you remain plugged in to your evolving work environment, but it will also expose you to other perspectives, opinions, and even advice. Often, circumstances aren’t quite as dismal (or as unmanageable) as we envision them to be.
Everyone will face change at some point in their career whether it be a shift in technology, employment of a new staff member or a merger of teams. Any change, whether it’s positive or negative, can be stressful because it involves the unknown, and we tend to fear the unknown. Finding ways to not just ‘deal’ or ‘cope’ with change but EMBRACE this new challenge is the key to success!
Our top team building activities for embracing change include:
Bridge to Unity
A collaborative construction challenge! Teams must work against the clock to build a bridge whilst overcoming a shortage of resources and communication barriers. The real test sees ‘drivers’ assessing the bridge with remote controlled cars, will they succeed in creating the Bridge to Unity?
Escape the Room
Can your team escape? This exciting Escape the Room challenge is the ultimate team building event that will test the sharpest minds. Each team is “locked” in a room with a set time frame in which to escape before the world as we know it ceases to exist. Teams must follow the clues, solve the puzzles, unlock the secrets to ESCAPE! Teams race to uncover the 8 digit code that will ultimately set them free – will they do it in time?
Project Pipeline
In Project Pipeline, teams or ‘countries’ delegates must work together to build a Pipeline that stretches from one side of their country to the other, only using the materials provided. The catch – in order to do so they must barter and trade with neighbouring countries to obtain the materials needed. The aim is to build a complete Pipeline to transport a resource (a metal ball bearing) down the line. Countries will then be asked to join their Pipelines together for transportation of the resource across all countries.
