Adapting to Change

Adapting to Change

Accept Change.

Adapting to change can be challenging.

Change is as continual as life. Things change, whether we welcome it or not. When you think about it, our own lives go through the same changes as organizations; we experience restructuring, downsizing, and “upsizing” just like companies do. Our own little “organizations” grow when we have kids and get smaller when they move out. Perhaps a separation or divorce causes us to go through a restructuring.

Consider how Covid-19, and the its “variants” have turned our lives upside down. We are worried about getting sick. We are worried about the health of our families and are nervous about the possibility of bringing the virus home even with masks, hand-sanitizer and and social distancing. No one was prepared for this pandemic. We have all had to adapt in a multitude of ways.  We have had no choice.

What Can We Do?

When it comes to the pandemic, there’s nothing we can do except do our best to stay well. But for other business or life-changing situations consider this: Change blows through our lives, sometimes like a breeze, sometimes like wind and sometimes like a storm. You can bow your head to try to buck it, hoping it will blow over. You’re not certain the change in your company or your personal life is for the better. You may even experience stress and personal resistance. The point is you can rarely do anything about the change, so it will best serve you to accept it and move on, and if it’s a change in your company, perhaps even promote it. You might consider focusing on positive opportunities change can bring and look upon adapting to it as a challenge. Encourage others to pull together for a positive result. In doing so, you will have some control over it. Change will never end until you experience that final life-ending change, and even then, life will go on without us. This is a harsh reality we all must face. [Read more…]

How To Institute Change

Time for Change - Ornate Clock

This article has been published in numerous trade publications.

The world has changed! That’s an understatement. No one expected the unprecedented changes that have occured in our world, in business, and in the workplace. The pandemic turned our world upside down.

As a result, companies have had to make changes to ensure survival and success.

In this environment, no business can afford to maintain the Status Quo!

One of the most challenging and important responsibilities for leaders is to institute change. Managerial calls to embrace change are often met with resistance and uncertainty. If not managed correctly, disgruntled employees, profit loss, poor performance, and unacceptable levels of customer service can be the result. Worse, people may simply leave!  Employees that have been working from home for the past year or two and are told to go back to the office is a change the majority of employees don’t want to make. Employees leaving their jobs is a harsh reality we must face.

Below are methods to help you manage change, and the transition process. [Read more…]

The High Performance Workplace

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This article originally appeared in the Construction Financial Management Association publication – It provides examples from the construction and CFO perspective, however, it’s concepts apply to all businesses. 

You’ve just completed checking over a new subcontractor’s construction expenditures on a large hospital project. You had reservations about using a new subcontractor on such a visible project, but the construction manager was able to persuade the CEO about the firm’s capabilities. Now, you’re beginning to see cost overruns that you will need to nip in the bud if you are to deliver the project within budget. You get up from your desk to pour yourself another cup of coffee before tackling the next task. There’s still a huge amount of work you need to get done before the end of the day, but you pour the steamy brew and pause for a few moments to gaze at the people around you. [Read more…]

How to Deal With Negative People — The Princes and Princesses of Pessimism

Negative People

All of us have come across negative people. For them, negativity is the driving force in their lives. When they go home at night, they complain about their customers, their jobs, their bosses, and the traffic. Then they park themselves in front of the TV and tune out the rest of the world. When it comes to making plans for their future they simply don’t because they are stuck wherever they are, which is usually in their own minds. They consider themselves “victims” of whomever or whatever. Sadly, they do not realize that thinking of themselves as victims of their world keeps them feeling oppressed and holds them back from professional accomplishment and personal happiness. [Read more…]

Avoid Negaholics

Avoid Negaholics

Seems like every time I write about negative people, I get lots of hits on my site, and “forwards” of Monday Morning Motivation. It’s no wonder, there are a lot of really negative grumpy people out there these days. [Read more…]

10 Things to Ditch in 2022

Boring Meeting

1) Ditch the term “employee.” Progressive companies refer to their staff to as “business partners,” “colleagues,” “team members,” or “associates.” All of these infer a level of respect for the individual. Smart.

2) Ditch the term “customer satisfaction.” Satisfaction isn’t enough. Strive for higher levels of customer loyalty. Measure the number of repeat and regular customers. Strive for higher levels every year.

3) Ditch micro-managing. Instead, help, guide, approve, thank, coach.  When you are sure employees are competent, empower them.

4) Ditch boring meetings. Maybe even ditch some of the meetings.  And certainly do all you can to make your virtual meetings interesting through employee involvement, contests, brainstorming, etc. Be creative! Make sure you are not the only one talking.

5) Ditch the discussion of revenue and talk profitability to your “business partners.”  Remind them that

                                     REVENUE IS REALLY NICE!  PROFIT IS WHAT MATTERS! 

6) Ditch conflict situations. Apply conflict management techniques – whether the conflict is between you and someone else, between two team members, or between departments.

7) Ditch people in leadership positions who do not demonstrate the values of honesty, integrity, professionalism, health and safety, accountability, family, and your other core values.  Every leader should treat employees exceptionally well and lead in the same way.  Create “guiding principles” on how you lead, and how to treat people.

8) Ditch under-performers. As hard as it is to attract, hire, and retain employees these days, eliminate underperformers. You can’t afford to have them on your team- especially if top performers have to make up for the slack in their work.

9) Ditch using the term “back to normal.”  Strive for higher aspirations if you want to achieve success in today’s world.  Business has changed.

10) Ditch negativity.  It’ just too hard for people to have a smile on their face and stay motivated to perform if you or anyone on your team is negative. Negativity has a powerful force of it’s own.

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