From the course: Creating a Culture of Change

Change: The only constant

From the course: Creating a Culture of Change

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Change: The only constant

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- So let me tell you a story. I have a good friend who I've known for 25 years. For as long as I've known him, he's lived in the same apartment. The only reason he moved to that apartment in the first place is because an earthquake destroyed the building where he previously lived. Otherwise, he'd probably still be living there. He also worked for the same company for 30 years in the same kind of middle management positions for much of that time. He even had two assistants supporting him, who job shared the same role for 15 years, and yet, he often complained that there was too much change in his work, and life in general. In reality, everything around him had changed while he stood still and this caused him a lot of stress. It was even more stressful for him, because he didn't initiate any of the change that affected him and he wasn't prepared for it. I want to help you develop a healthy relationship towards change so that you can use it to succeed personally and professionally. As a leader or influencer in your organization, you can use these skills to support your team and help them to thrive in a world where change is the new norm. Change is one of the few constants in life. It is a powerful force that keeps our lives and our cultures vital and dynamic. And in our lifetimes, what has changed significantly is the rate of change. As a result of things like population growth increased global and social mobility, and technological advances, the rate at which change occurs has accelerated exponentially. This acceleration is experienced both on a personal level and universally for all peoples across the planet. Sometimes, this accelerated rate of change can be overwhelming for individuals and organizations. On an organizational level for example, over half the companies that made up the Fortune 500 in the year 2000, no longer exist today. These companies have either dissolved, merged, or been acquired by other companies. Think about that for a minute. More than half of the largest and most powerful companies in the world have ceased to exist in less than 20 years time. There are various causes and explanations, but invariably it's because they didn't adapt to their changing business ecosystems quickly enough and became extinct. The good news is that doesn't have to happen to you or your organization. You can develop the kind of growth mindset and attitude that will enable you to use change as a dynamic force to succeed. And in the process, you can use it to create a culture of change in your organization.

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