Back Up Plan and Change Management
10/7/13
Change happens all of the time in business and sometimes we
are not prepared for the new way of doing things. It can be a change to an open
office environment, reduction in force or the entire office infrastructure
ending after multiple years of gainful business.
Or it may be a well admired office manager leaving for a new
adventure only to be replaced with someone with different values and beliefs
compared to yours running the organization. Although we may consider the new
leadership, job ending and other changes to be manageable, they still send a
small shock to our system. What we once knew is over and done and we need to
learn how to blossom and grow from new experiences.
I learned about change at work by wading through varying waves
of workplace challenges such as potential RIFs, work stoppages to transition in
leadership. Each time I thought about where I will be in a few months once the
changes have settled into place. It was hard to determine if I would survive
the changes at the office, but I was determined to keep my head up. For
example, I left a minor role in public affairs to take on a role as a web
content manager in the public sector. I left behind a former manager and team
to try on a new role that would allow me to leverage my technical skills for
the first time with a newly established group. It was scary, everyone was
different from me and I was just ready to jump into work to show off my web
skills. I realized I needed to do more than the proverbial “keep my head down.” I had to approach the changes and people one
on one.
After a few months, I noticed the subtle differences in my
new team’s work and communication styles and adjusted my approach accordingly
to obtain the optimal results. I also made every effort to avoid conflicts,
even when I knew a different approach on certain projects would be the best
route. I did not give up, I simply choose a different approach to persuade
people to also understand and support my suggestions for changes too.
In the past, I usually focus on just my work. Then I
participated in a mentorship program about a year ago which resulted in a new
approach at moving people to change. My former mentor listened to a story I
told him about the challenges of persuading people to accept change in web
content and design. Then he suggested I stop selling my ideas in a “whack
hammer” approach. He suggested I try something new: just share the benefits
briefly, let the person to decide and let it go. For someone who can readily argue the merits
of both sides of an issue, letting something go is not easy for me. Yet, I have
been trying this new approach for 8 months with amazing results. Lesson
learned.
Backup plan: When I survived a reduction in force a couple
of years ago it was devastating to receive the message. It was an email
followed by an in-person message stating that I had 30 to 45 days to find a new
position or I would be removed from payroll in this private sector
organization.
I did not have a backup plan. For example, I did not have:
·
Saving account with money to cover bills for
several months
- A new job to walk into
- A part time job to supplement any money I would
miss if my job lapsed
- A way to escape the inevitable reality- my job
may end
·
I I read many books, talked to many people and
realized that life was going to change for me again.
During this time of my life, I
had a family to care for and a mortgage. How could I not prepare for this
change? I never thought it would happen to me. A friend of my mine was also RIF’d
at the same time and we decided to work together and network with senior
leaders and apply for other jobs. We were fortunate and got new jobs in our
respective areas of expertise before the downsizing deadline occurred.
Then I thought about the future
and decided to go to graduate school to obtain a graduate degree in
communications. This was step one of my backup plan. It really helped to focus
on my education as both an outlet and an opportunity to prepare for an ever-changing
business environment. Part two of preparing for change included putting money
aside for my family’s education plan. It was not a large sum of money, however
$10 to $20 dollars a month can add up over a year.
Lastly, I accepted an offer for a
part-time adjunct position completely outside of my technical world of web
design and HTML. It was the best example of accepting change because I found a
new career field that I truly enjoy. If I had shut down when change occurred at
work or did not consider a backup plan a couple of years ago, I would have
missed an opportunity to grown professionally and personally. Instead, I learned through education,
experience and mentors that this was a time for me to blossom and grow from
change.
