Earthquakes and Adaptability
Some things just naturally go together: Peanut butter and jelly, salt and pepper, tacos and Tuesdays, California and earthquakes.
As a lifelong resident of California, I’ve experienced a handful of earthquakes. Having said that, I’m fortunate to report that I’ve only felt two real “shakers” where I live. (A quote from my then-teenaged son: “Mom, was that an earthquake? Huh. So, what’s for dinner?”) Californians are typically aware, trained, and semi-ready for the next big one, yet Mother Nature always surprises us with her timing.
I mention this because I think it’s a parallel to how rarely we’re prepared for the unexpected changes we encounter throughout our careers. As professionals, our job assignments and related tasks can change in ways we don’t expect and frankly, may not appreciate. When this happens, how do we typically respond? Do we waste time denying that it’s even happening or refuse to acknowledge it with the hope that it will just go away—or do we adjust our sails and find ways to adapt and figure out the new path? Are we adaptable to change?
Moving Your Cheese
Many years ago, this issue of change and adaptability was the focus of the popular book, “Who Moved My Cheese?” If you haven’t read it, it’s a fable about four cheese-loving mice who live in a maze. When their cheese supply suddenly disappears, two of the mice quickly identify the need to find a new food source while the other two mice waste their time, waiting and hoping the old cheese supply will return. The core message of the fable is that things in life constantly change. The sooner we can recognize and adapt to change, the more satisfied our lives may be.
Change is hard and humans have the innate ability to further complicate that fact. Oh sure, some change can be exciting, but we also know from experience that it has the potential to add stress and frustration to our work life. (As an example, think about the number of changes at work you likely experienced during the first year of the pandemic.) It would be unrealistic to believe that we can stop change from happening, yet if we can adjust some of our thought processes, we gain the ability to minimize our stress related to the ongoing changes encountered at work.
Approaches
To help you get started, here are some thoughts and approaches I’d like to suggest as you work to improve your ability to adapt and embrace change in the workplace.
- Change is inevitable. It’s a fact. The world around us will continue to change. While we can appreciate some changes, unwanted change can be disruptive and cause us to feel stress. When we’re able to acknowledge that change has occurred and is probable in the future, we’re better able move forward.
- Expect it, anticipate it. There are some changes we can anticipate: The services we provide, technologies we employ, and the ever-changing needs and expectations of our customers. Counter to what our minds tells us, we actually feel more anxiety if we’re stuck and unwilling to move and grow as professional organizations. Our industry peers are great about sharing the latest innovations and trends. Make sure you’re paying attention to what may be coming your way.
- When it happens, adapt quickly. The faster we’re able to let go of “the way we’ve always done it.” The sooner we feel less stress about implementing the change. Grumbling and complaining does not serve us well and rarely changes the outcome.
- Help others embrace the change. Sharing positive observations and insights serves to encourage others who may be resistant to certain changes. Can you find opportunities to collaborate with other members of your team to refine and improve related processes? Are you willing to identify and share challenges and potential solutions? Thinking and working positively about a new service, adjusted process or practice can help us and our co-workers to adapt more easily to change.
We have all experienced that colleague who fights every little change encountered. Can you imagine the internal turmoil that approach creates for them? The energy that kind of mental struggle requires makes me tired just thinking about it. My unsolicited advice on this: If that describes you, it’s time for a change. And, if we know that change is inevitable, let’s learn to adapt, appreciate, and even enjoy it a little.
Hey, life is short. Change happens. Enjoy the taste of new cheese.
