Change is the law of life.
      John F. Kennedy

Do you ever long for “status quo”?

Does it feel like there’s too much change?

Do you wish it could just slow down a bit, just for a while?

To give you a breather?

Yes, we probably all wish for that at times.

But the fact is that change is all around us, it’s our constant companion – and for various reasons – like incredibly fast technical development and globalisation – the speed of change is only getting faster.

Fear not though. Relax. Make change your friend. No change is necessarily good or bad – it’s only how we look at it that makes it so. So we may as well look for the opportunities in change; look at change as a door opener, a possibility maker, a valuable companion.

If you change the way you look at things,

the things you look at change.

Wayne Dyer

It’s good to question change, to challenge change, to explore and find answers – because there will be times when a proposed change is not the best solution. But when change is a given, when we cannot change that, then we need to accept it, embrace it and make it work. We can become proactive – as through proactivity comes a sense of control, which has a calming and strengthening impact on us – which in turn makes it easier to deal with change.

The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it,

move with it, and join the dance.

Alan Watts

Being able to deal with change, to manage it and even lead it, is an evergreen leadership skill, which is now more important than ever in our fast-changing world.

If you are serious about developing your leadership capabilities for the future, then take a close look at you can lead and manage change better and better. Here are a few ideas to kick-start your thinking:

  1. Become a brilliant listener and communicator. If there is anything that’s needed in change then it’s communication. Communicate, communicate, communicate – keeping in mind that you have two ears and one mouth – communication is a two-way street.
  1. Be a role model for change. People do what you do, not what you say. Think about the impact you have on others; how do you talk about the change? What are you doing to make it work?
  1. Involve and engage people in change. Change is often scary and can feel pointless if we feel like it’s being done to us. By engaging others in a change that affects them, you minimise that fear and increase the chances of the change becoming a successful one.
  1. Have courage. In change it’s hard to know the correct answer and yet you need to move forward. This takes courage – to try things out, to test and evaluate, to adjust and improve – and keep moving forward.
  1. Anticipate and lead change. Look around you; be aware of the internal and external environment you are in. What are the trends on the market? What are your competitors doing? What could be improved and changed? Look for opportunities to lead change – and empower your team members to do the same.

Change brings opportunity.

Nido Qubein

About the authors

Mandy Flint & Elisabet Vinberg Hearn, award-winning authors of ”The Team Formula”.

Their latest book ”Leading Teams – 10 Challenges: 10 Solutions” is out now, published by Financial Times International.

Praise for ”Leading Teams: ”This book is a 21st-century guide on how to build a world-class team. I highly recommend it” Steve Siebold, Founder, Mental Toughness University, Florida USA.

www.leadingteamsbook.com