When change happens, many people take the approach that rather than adapt to the new way of doing things, they will just work the same as always, only harder. This approach may work for a short time, but it is not a feasible long-term solution to adjusting to change. If you continue to work the same as always, only harder rather than adapt to change, you will only cause burnout, pain, frustration, and/or anger for yourself and those around you.
Work the same as always, only harder didn’t work for me
Some time back, I went through a change where I got a new boss. My new boss and I didn’t always see eye to eye on things. He wanted to change the way everything was done before he understood why it was done that way. I, on the other hand, tried to do everything I knew how to do, but at a faster pace than I had done it in the past. I worked the same as always, only harder.
It didn’t take long for me to be very worn out. This approach didn’t help me to see more eye to eye with my new boss and it didn’t lead to my success. It just made me frustrated, annoyed, and angry at times because things didn’t go my way.
After taking this approach for quite some time, I realized that I would be much better off if I accepted the changes he proposed and him as my new boss. I did everything I could to make him my ally. I began doing my best to understand him and his ways of doing things.
I also did all I could to understand how he wanted things done and then did them according to his way. By adjusting my approach, I was much happier at the end of each day and life was easier.
Why I don’t recommend this approach
When you work harder, but refuse to change your ways, you are only prolonging the inevitable. Change will always happen. Therefore, you have two choices when change comes. You can either join the change team and you can fight it.
Most of the time when change happens, it is an improvement from how things were done in the past. If you continue to do things the way you always did them only harder, you will still be doing them at a slower rate.
For example, when technology advances, it almost always allows you to do things faster than you did them before. If you continued to use the computer you got in 2000 while everyone else is using the computer they got last week, you will be slower than everyone else. Or, if you continue to work as you worked under your old boss (as was my case) you are building walls instead of trust.
A better approach
Although change can be very hard at times, it is usually easier to embrace than to reject. If you don’t like the change, talk to the people driving the change and voice your concerns. Then be willing to listen to their reasons for the change.
When you voice your concerns, explain why they are your concerns in a non-emotional or confrontational way so that they can listen to you and hear your side. You probably have some great points that need to be heard and/or addressed.
Once you listen to them, they will most likely listen to you in return and it will be much easier to move forward. If they don’t listen, you can have peace knowing that you let them know how you feel.
What do you think?
Have you ever tried to work the same as always, only harder as a way of fighting change? If so, what were your results? Have you ever been the leader over someone that tried this approach? How did it work for you, the other person, and the team? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below!
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