I walk into my favorite grocery store, and proceed along my familiar path. Almost mindlessly, I'm pulling our standard items into the cart, then wait...what? I come to the first item on my list that isn't in its regular place. I make the assumption (grounded in hope) that this must mean it is out of stock. I continue, but there is a nagging feeling in my stomach. Next aisle, oh no, half the shelves are empty, and what is there isn't in the right place. You guessed it...a product placement re-plan. Ugh, I don't have time for this...can't anything be easy!?! Overreaction? Of course. The marketer in me understands why this is important to their business, but this unplanned disruption of my routine is still unwelcome. In a world where change is constant, why is it always so unexpected?
The example above may seem trivial, but it is a simple way of understanding how change affects us and how to deal with it in a more productive way.
Acknowledge the change. Be aware of your surroundings and know when things are changing. Understand what is changing and how it might affect you (it's possible it won't and you can stop worrying)
Accept or Reject. Of course, there are situations where life forces change on you. However, just as often, we have a choice. While we can't necessarily stop the change from coming, we can determine how to respond. In my grocery story, I could choose to learn the new layout or simply go to another store that I'm familiar with.
Make a Plan. Whether the change is a simple one like a grocery layout or something bigger like a re-org at your workplace, you will need a plan of how to manage the change. Think through what other inputs you need, and what steps you need to take in order to absorb the change.
Give it Time. Change is constant, and some changes will be easier than others. For those that are not a big deal, try not to turn them into one. For those that are, give yourself a little time to adjust.
