A significant proportion of the work that I do with organizations is providing tools for people to effectively respond to and creatively manage change. It seems that because the pace of change is approaching warp speed, many people are quietly saying to themselves: “Stop the world—I want to get off!”
But a few of us operating in today’s pressure cooker environment cannot relate to that sentiment.
I have discovered that people who both successfully manage change share two dominant characteristics:
- Perspective
- Priorities
Lighten Up
Perspective is the way we look at things—our attitudes toward what happens, when it happens. One healthy and smart perspective in this changing world is to always be ready for surprises. As we peer into the future, the only sure prediction we can make is: We will be surprised. And how boring would life be if we weren’t?
Another example of keeping things in perspective is to realize that while what we do may be serious stuff, we need to lighten up about it. During one of the interviews I conducted for my book, “The Eagle’s Secret,” one successful executive surprised me by identifying his No. 1 ingredient for thriving in today’s business environment as: a sense of humor. Mary Crowley showed hers when she said: “Every evening, I turn my worries over to God. He’s going to be up all night anyway.”
Sense of Purpose
Priorities are distinguished from perspective for they concern behavior rather than attitudes. They reflect what we feel, at any one time, is important or indicate what we prefer to do. But how do we determine what is truly important? For example, to succeed in our professional lives, we need to demonstrate a high level of commitment, but does that also not apply to our personal lives? Successful prioritization, therefore, can only be achieved by being clear about what we want for our lives. Here are some thoughts to consider:
Do we wake up in the morning with a sense of purpose? A sense of purpose at work comes from understanding and believing that what we do matters, that the fruits of our labors are making a valuable contribution to the world.
Are we working toward a goal that is motivating and meaningful? We need to remember that we are the co-creators of our lives, and from the moment we wake up, we are creating.
If our lives are about merely surviving—just existing—then we will have very different daily priorities than if we are committed to thriving—growing and prospering.
Providing the tools for people to successfully manage change is the new frontier for organizations committed to thriving in both the global economy and the dynamic new world of work. Those with healthy, realistic perspectives and the right priorities will lead the field. The good news is that these attitudes and behaviors can be learned. That, itself, holds inspiring possibilities for human progress and development.
David McNally, CPAE, is the CEO (Chief Encouragement Officer) of TransForm Corporation. Elected to the Speakers Hall of Fame by the National Speakers Association (NSA), McNally is the author of the bestselling books, “Even Eagles Need a Push—Learning to Soar in a Changing World,” “The Eagle’s Secret—Success Strategies for Thriving at Work and in Life,” and “The Push—Unleashing the Power of Encouragement.” His co-authored book, “Be Your OWN Brand,” is used by many business schools to address the importance of building a strong personal brand. McNally’s books have been translated into 12 different languages and developed into corporate training programs that have been released in more than 20 countries. TransForm works with organizations to develop purposeful leaders who build inspired organizations and iconic brands. Clients include Ameriprise, Areva, Conway, Delta Airlines, Pulte Homes, and Thrivent. For more information, visit www.davidmcnally.com or e-mail info@transformcorp.com.
