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By Nancy J. Lewis, MS, SHRM-CP, RCC  The workplace of today is filled with challenge, chaos, and uncertainty. Downsizing, rightsizing, capsizing, and resizing are common practices for many organizations today. It is more important than ever before to develop strategies for navigating and surviving the winds of workplace change. Every time you pick up the newspaper or business journal, you see the difficult plight occurring in the world of work. As we struggles to find the right course to keep our careers and jobs on track, consider the following four steps on your journey in coping with change.
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By Nancy J. Lewis, MS, PHR, RCC  In this fast paced, ever changing world where we must learn to do more with less, we must be grounded in who we are. To cope with the changing world of work, diverse customers and employees, the generational divide, rightsizing, downsizing, whatever the term used, we must have a strong sense of self.
Developing a better you requires recognizing that everything begins from within. We must remind ourselves of the unique gifts we possess that make us special. Too often, we focus on our failures and forget the successes we have had in life. Our failures help us grow because they challenge us to find a way to persevere until the victory is won. Our successes propel us forward to continue to run the race before us because we have what it takes to succeed. 1. Believe in yourself. You must know that you are unique and decide to validate yourself. You must have positive self-talk and recognize that failure is not final, merely a steppingstone to greatness. Commit to measuring yourself with yourself and not someone else. I once read you can be a first rate you or a second rate somebody else. Affirm today, I am confident, courageous, and capable. 2. Surround yourself with positive people. People with negative attitudes are energy draining and when your energy is zapped, you have to go and get recharged. Is it always easy to have positive people around? Absolutely not! We must continue to help others by suggesting sources of inspiration such as self-help books, motivational tapes, and spiritual literature. Then we must challenge individuals to be willing to take charge of their life and the things they can change. Often, you will find yourself spending less time with persons because you can see they really do not want to change. These negative people are often dream busters and if you let them, they will chatter your dreams. Be careful who you share your dreams with and do what you must do for yourself to remain focused and positive. Each you must decide to embrace life with an attitude of gratitude. Affirm today, I will focus on the positive things in life. 3. Visualize success. In order to visualize success, you must see your dreams and goals with clarity and have a plan. Steven Covey states you must begin with the end in mind. The Bible states where there is no vision the people perish. Is it so important to have a blueprint to guide and direct your path as you work towards achieving your dreams and goals in life. Commit to developing a plan for the dreams and goals you have set for yourself in your personal and professional life. Affirm today, I will take one positive action that will lead me one step closer to reaching my goals. 4. Welcome and embrace change. How many of you love change? Most of us resist change because of uncertainty and the risks it brings. The only constant in life is that things will change. Our ability to cope with change will help us reduce the stress change often brings. Many of us our currently facing some form of change in our lives, empty nesters, taking care of aging parents, family crisis, jobs being downsized or eliminated, mergers and acquisitions and the list goes on and on. It is vital we find ways to embrace and welcome changes that will take place on our personal and professional lives. Change allows us the opportunity to expand our boundaries and grow. Affirm today, I will welcome and embrace change. 5. Celebrate successes everyday in your life. When you achieve a major milestone in your life, how do you reward yourself? Start a happy file, smile file, or success journal today. When someone sends you a note, an e-mail message, or a letter that lets you know they appreciate you, put it in that file. Start to focus on the nice things people say and do for you and help them begin their happy file by sharing with them in written form, a note of appreciation. When you start recognizing the successes and strengths of others, it is amazing how much more people start to recognize yours. What you send out to others returns to you. Begin the habit of rewarding yourself for the milestones that move you closer to your goals. These milestones may be big or small. It really doesn’t matter the size only that you recognize them. The important thing is to celebrate because small successes lead to big successes. Affirm today, I will start my happy file. 6. Love Yourself. What kind of self-talk goes on in your head? What do you say about yourself to others? Learn how to look in the mirror and declare that you love the reflection you see. There is no one else like you in the universe. You are special and always remember that. Love you for the wonderful person you are. Affirm today, I value and love myself. 7. Maintain a winning attitude about life. Life may not always deal you the hand you want, but learn how to play the hand you are dealt with a winning disposition. Maintaining a winning attitude means that when challenges come, you recognize there is a miracle in your struggle. When you are able to maintain a winning attitude about life, you draw people and circumstances that will be a blessing to you. In life nothing happens by chance, everything is divinely orchestrated. So go forward and keep your winning attitude about life and watch your garden of greatness grow. Affirm today, I will maintain a winning attitude about life. Nancy J. Lewis is the president of Progressive Techniques, Inc. based in Fayetteville, Georgia where the theme of her company is “Developing a Better YOU." Nancy can be reached at (770) 964-5533 or email: nancy@progressivetechniquesinc.com or website: www.progressivetechniquesinc.com. ============================ Your Comments Are Welcome. by Michelle Porchia 
Change – something most people do not like or are afraid of. There is a saying, “The only thing that is constant is change.” Change is inevitable. I, for one, like change (most of the time). I like new things. I like doing something different. So, why don’t most people like change?
People want to know what is going to happen. They have a comfort in knowing what was and what they think will be. Often people fight change before they even know what the change is and how it will impact them. The unfortunate thing is, if one does not get on board with change, you may get left behind, be “left in the cold” or locked out entirely. The business world and the world as a whole is ever-changing. We have gone from an agricultural to a manufacturing to a technological society. Many people embraced the change and have been able to keep up and/or move forward. People have reinvented themselves, their business and even their lives. Continue to revisit this webiste for tips on retooling (http://www.ebonyspeakers.com/ebony-speakers-blog.html.) I retooled my life from being a corporate trainer for almost two decades to being an entrepreneur in the midst of a recession. Yes, that was scary and challenging. At the same time it was exciting and invigorating. Recently I embarked on a huge change. I jumped without a net so to speak. I decided to make my move from Connecticut/New England to the South. I have lived North, West and East and I now live South. This move meant I put my business on hold, although I am still coaching clients via the phone. It also meant disposing of most of my belongings and storing the rest. I gave up my personal space to share space in someone else’s home until I can get financially set and get my own place. HUGE change. It is scary and exciting. I have the opportunity to meet a new group of people – potential clients. I also have the opportunity to expand my circle of friends. I get to try new and exciting things. Wow! It is Fall, a time when the earth is changing. In New England the foliage is beautiful as all the leaves change colors (I will miss that this Fall). After a while though, the color goes away and the trees are bare as the earth rests and prepares to reappear in the spring more vibrant and beautiful than before. I don’t know what direction my business will take other than continuing with my coaching clients. I don’t know what direction my life will take. What I know is that I am looking forward to resurfacing more vibrant, ready and innergized than before. Here’s to the season of change! Your Comments are Welcome Below. |
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