Change is fluid in life and adapting well to the results of change comes from practice and a strong faith in your abilities.
Business changes are much the same and in order to make it through them well, it’s necessary to concentrate more closely on not just the final results of the changes and how they affect your business but also on the steps taken within the business to alleviate the worst outcomes.
Businesses today have changed and constant upheavals seem to have become a way of life. Whether in a large company or in a smaller business run by one person, things are no longer static. Instead of feeling like a victim of the times and worrying about how the changes will affect you, it’s better to keep your reactions under control. This gives you more of a sense of control over where your business is heading. While there are outside circumstances that you can’t do anything about, the small day to day things in your business are always under your control and being objective about these will help you when everything seems to be changing at once.
With the turnover in business strategies, marketing techniques, new products and updated services that are occurring now, always being prepared is good advice. Rather than expecting your business to continue with the same employees, services, customers, etc., notice the small signs that tell you when things need to be different. Many business owners refuse to look reality in the face and don’t realize until too late that by not accepting change, they have put their businesses in jeopardy.
Look at all of the possible outcomes. When extreme events happen within your business, list all of the best and worst things that could happen because of it helps you to prepare a strategy for anything on your list. Bringing in any outside resources you may need, seeking advice from others who have made it through similar processes and deciding what is a priority will help you cope with emotions that may be running wild, exhaustion from stress and worries over your future.
Keep in mind that not all modifications that you need to make will be long term, in particular the more extreme alterations. Sometimes, due to the current business climate, challenges will arise that are complete unexpected, especially financial ones. Unfamiliar challenges need to be addressed immediately, even if only with a stop gap measure that is put in place for a short period of time, until you learn more about what you are dealing with.
Remember, that whatever changes are taking place, people and their concerns have priority over things, previous processes and your personal feelings that arise from emotion attachment to the way your business has been up until this time. Taking care of difficult and critical issues is something you will need to learn to have to deal with a business owner. Communicating with all involved and keeping the lines of communication open will help everyone to make it through whatever business challenge you are facing and better prepare you for any future changes.
© Chris Draper, DemGen Inc. 2014
