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Posted:  24 September 2007

Coping with change in the workplace      

By: Jay Jay Viray Manila Times

Just when we have gotten comfortable--we know our jobs inside and out, we've figured out what our boss wants and how she works, we have developed a healthy, happy relationship with our coworkers--then comes change.

Change denotes the transition that occurs when something happens that turns the similar into difference.  We cannot stop change.  In the workplace where shifts constantly happen, one must be prepared to anticipate and accept it.  To paraphrase a book I read once, "Change in workplace can make you either a victim or agent for success."  What we will become in our future be will largely depend on our reactions to change and our abilities to cope with it.

Change may sound scary, especially when it's forced or thrust upon us.  Humans are naturally resistant to change, at least in the beginning.  Most of us do not want to get out of the comfort of our old environment.  We see change as the unkown and become fearful.  That fear makes us think of change as a negative thing.

Many kinds of changes happen in the workplace or our careers.  One is organizational change.  Whether the organizational change is an outcome of downsizing, a merge, or major reorganization, workers usually worry about what they are going to lose and how are they going to adapt.  They feel lost or lose their sense of direction.  The same feeling happens when a different employer, a different boss comes in, or they are placed in a different department which has a different set of people in a different work system.

Another is technological change.  Technology advances rapidly.  The way we do business today may not be the way will do it tomorrow.  This is most true in the IT industry where softwares and equipments keep on changing.  Thus the challenge to be constantly updated.

The challenge everyone faces when change occurs is how to deal with it.  Dealing with change is a process.  We have to make an effort to be able to move through the stages of resistance to acceptance.  The key is to find ways to see the opportunities and benefits in change.

Cultivate a positive attitude.  Seeing the positives in a certain situation helps us move from "I can't do it"  to "I can do it".  Look with a new perspective.  Try to look beyond the surface of an obstacle.

Stay informed.  Innocence is bliss but knowledge is power.  Understand the advantages of the change and this will remove the fears.  For example, change can make you more responsible and self-reliant.  While employers may assist you in dealing with certain changes, such as in technology advancement, you also need to take the initiative to keep yourself in touch with the latest trend.

Change will also help you learn to explore.  Expose yourself to a menu of different ideas so you can develop the ability to adapt to different settings.  Cope with change by attending seminars and workshops.

Most importantly, change can be an impetus for you to increase your confidence/faith in yourself.  Believe that you can face any challenge that comes with change.  Do not hesitate to seek guidance and moral support from families and friends.  They will help you gain the confidence you need to master the ups and downs of change at work.