This is my first post in a series on how to make change management practical.
Change management is typically used in a corporate context and focuses on what employees need to return to normal when their company adopts a new system or makes structural changes, However, I believe there are principles in change management that can help anyone come out stronger on the other side of any kind of change.
To learn more about the background of my current change journey of moving from a role as a program management role in the U.S. to the Asia Director for the America's largest popcorn exporter in far Northwestern China, check out my Asia Popcorn Adventure blog post. To make things even more interesting, I am going through this change with my wife of nearly 19 years and our 4 children - ages 14 to 4.
The focus of this post is resilience, which Joan Loshek of Loshek Consulting has helpfully defined as
"The ability to survive and thrive when faced with challenges."
From my most recent experience facing challenges is not easy and we are typically ill equipped on how to survive them without going crazy. Thriving through such changes is even less common. Yet, change is everywhere - whether we like it or not. Yes, not everyone moves their family from the U.S. to China, but everyone must move from one season of life to another; from one job to another or one community to another.
My plea is simple - Don’t waste your change.
Properly grieve and go through all of the emotional calisthenics of change, yet build up your resiliency muscles. Loshek Consulting is wise to remind us that one of the key characteristics of resilient people is purpose. Purpose is at the heart of resiliency because it calls us to continually focus beyond our immediate circumstances or feelings. Don't shipwreck the success of the change you are going through by focusing on your past circumstances or your present emotions about your current circumstances.
In my next post, I will share ways I was able to make purpose practical when beginning my latest change.
Until then, I'd be interested to know - What role does purpose play when you lead or go through changes in your own life?
