In leadership, change is a very common word. Some people say that change creates opportunity while others say change is scary and negative. In the fast paced, ever changing business world, one of the few constants is change. Change is all around us. From new leaders and job transfers to new policies and procedures, change is always occurring in one form or another.
Change Creates Opportunity
In my life, I’ve found that change creates opportunity. Some of the most difficult changes I have ever experienced also helped me to grow by leaps and bounds. Several years ago, I was working for one boss that transferred to another department. At that time I got a new leader. I got along great with my first boss and we had a great working relationship. I really enjoyed working for him and felt very sad when I got the new leader. When I got the my new boss, I did everything I could to make it a smooth transition. It was, however, quite a challenge to create a great working relationship.
There were many times when we didn’t see eye to eye on things. My new boss was a great person, but our work philosophies were very different. On many occasions, we had long discussions where we each tried to convince the other that our point was right. There were many times where I was able to change his mind while other times it would end with me saying that since he was the boss he had the final say and I would follow his direction. Overall, going from a boss that I worked very well with to a boss that didn’t think the same as me was quite a challenge. The change was very hard for me, but in the end I still found that change creates opportunity.
So how is it that change creates opportunity? The following three points describe opportunities that come with change:
1. Change Creates Opportunity For A Fresh Start
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt you could do better, but the system didn’t help you do so? Or, have you been in a situation that you just wanted to get out of? Change creates opportunity for a fresh start. If you make a leadership move in your company and advance to a new position, you have the opportunity to start over. You can do things different than you did in the past.
2. Change Creates Opportunity For Reflection
When you face a major change in your life, you will have the opportunity to reflect on life. You can think about where you came from, what led to where you are now, and what choices you made in your life. As you think about your past, you can think about the things you did well and the things you could’ve done better. As you reflect on your past, it will put your life in perspective.
3. Change Creates Opportunity For Growth
As you reflect and get a fresh start, change also give you the opportunity for growth. The real growth comes when after you have gone through reflection because you can identify what you can do better or differently going forward. If you are on a path that doesn’t lead where you want to end up, you can do things differently going forward. You can turn the change into an opportunity to grow by doing your part differently than you did in the past. To allow yourself to grow, you can identify things you will do differently going forward so you can make better choices.
As I went through that major change from one bosses to another, I found that change creates opportunity. I had the opportunity for a fresh start and many opportunities for reflection and growth. In the moment, I had many highs and lows, but overall I learned a lot and became a better person as a result. Next time you experience change, try to find how change creates opportunities for you.
How does change created opportunity for you? What opportunities have you seen because of change? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below!
Good points Brandon. One reason I like change is that I can look at my life or career goals and see how I can approach the change to move me closer to where I want to be. It does not always happen that way, but I am clearly in a better position by being proactive rather than being negative toward the inevitable.
Welcome Curtis! Thank you for visiting my blog. I completely agree with you about the importance of accepting change. Change always brings about learning in one form or another. Sometimes the learning happens right away, while other times it takes many years. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Brandon
Change is a necessity and an integral component to leadership. Effective and adaptive organizations operate at the “edge of chaos” where innovation and standardization create a constant tension within the organization. People may say they do not want change, but few would want to repeat each day without variation. What most people mean when they say they do not want change is that they do not want change that will adversely affect their comfort zone or the pattern of behavior they have established to make their jobs easier (done with little effort or thought). However, transformational leaders find ways to inspire the majority of their followers towards embracing productive change (not just change for the sake of change), and studies have shown that empowered workers are more productive workers if properly led. Change, therefore, is the natural evolution of business; those who fail to change, will eventually fail.
Kevin, Thank you for your insight! It is so true that no one wants to repeat the same day over and over again. A key to what you mentioned is that leaders are most successful at change when they help everyone understand both the benefits and the challenges that will come with change. Leaders won’t necessarily make everyone happy with changes, but if they effectively inform everyone there will be less kickback because they will understand the reasoning behind the change. Ultimately, leaders and organizations that fail to change will ultimately fail because they will become irrelevant. Thanks again for sharing! Brandon
I just wanted to share this thought on ‘change.’ All through my working life there were people who just did not like changes, good or bad. One day a good friend of mine sent an email with an image that read ‘change is bad.’ I wondered what happened to that person with such an open view. Change can be anything a person wants it to be. For some change is a good thing. Others welcome change with open arms. And there are those who just follow the changes that occur.
Welcome Yvone!
Thank you for sharing your valuable insight. It is so amazing how people forget that they got to where they now are through change at some point. Changes in work, geographical location, education, etc. Change occurs around us everyday. I think that as leaders we have a great power when it comes to change. We can package change in such a way that makes it easier to accept or we can try to force it on people. As a leader, it is important to know how to deliver it most effectively.
I am never content with things as they are, change is what motivates me. What is tricky is finding leadership opportunities that tap into that innate drive. Most organizations fear and fight change.
Welcome Tracy!
You make a great point. It is so important to identify what make change easiest for each person and deliver the message of change in that fashion. When you can do that, it is much easier to make big progress in a short time. Resistance to change is such a challenge when it comes to progress.