The Only Constant is Change by Cindy Stradling CSL, CPC
Every business leader longs for the day when their business or department runs itself. However, expecting to have a time when your business is quietly humming along may be unrealistic. In fact, it may even be detrimental to your business to hope for such a time.
Change is certain in nearly every business, and the best business leaders don’t shy away from making changes as needed to help their business grow. These successful leaders also know that being willing to make changes as necessary allows you to continue to get better.
The best leaders are constantly evaluating how their business is working and where improvements are needed. These people are never ok with keeping something simply because it is “how we’ve always done it.” In fact, the best leaders are excited about evolving along with their business.
Dealing with regular change requires flexibility and an open mind. Dealing with, and even welcoming change allows you to become a more agile business person who is ready for anything that business throws at you.
When you alter your mindset and become more open to change, you will likely reach a point where you become energized by the idea of changing something. Once you reach this mindset, you will be ready for everything that comes, but you will need to rein yourself in from wanting to change things too often or just for the sake of change. Give new ideas time to prove themselves to be good ones or bad ones before you decide to scrap something. When you make a process change, for example, determine up front how long you will try out the new process before determining whether or not it is a keeper.
Change is inevitable and is something every business must learn to handle. However, the most savvy business people are those who are able to move beyond just accepting change to embracing it and using it as a way to improve and grow in every aspect of your business.
If you fear change; take it one step at a time, and be willing to move beyond the fear. Each time you step forward and try something new, you’ll be moving closer to being an adaptable and agile leader. Remember the saying “Inch by Inch Success is a Cinch.”