Learning to Deal with and Create Change
Business Management Guru Peter Drucker stated “The most effective way to manage change successfully is to create it.” He added that one cannot manage change. One can only be ahead of it. In a period of upheavals, similar to what we have seen the last 10 years, change is the norm. At times, it can seem to be painful and risky, and above all it requires a great deal of very hard work. However, as Drucker explains: unless it is seen as the task of the organization to Create change, the organization will not survive.
In a period of rapid structural change, the only ones who survive are the change leaders. A change leader sees change as an opportunity. A change leader looks for change, knows how to find the right changes, and knows how to make them effectively, both outside the organization and inside it.
As I stated in my last blog, creating your future can be highly risky. It is less risky, however, than not trying to develop it. According to Drucker, a good proportion of those attempting to excel will surely not succeed. But then, he says, predictably, no one else will succeed either. Anticipate what the future holds and step out as a change leader. I think you will be glad you did!
In every financial turnaround situation with which I have been involved, change has been the primary necessity – change in how we manage, change in how we handle their Cash Flow! It can be slow and sometimes painful, but when a business hits financial turmoil, it usually occurs over time, and likewise, it probably can’t be corrected overnight either!
- a) When there is a lot of change, you can’t manage it because it simply happens so fast. You’ll usually feel about as successful as a dog chasing its tail.
- b) When we have times of tremendous turmoil – THINK commodity prices back in 2008 – change is normal! Can you imagine what our economy would be like today if in 2008 our US leadership had said, “Yeah, I know the housing market is tough, but we’re not going to change anything at all! We won’t try to lower interest rates, but hopefully everything will be okay.” That would have been insane!
Change is often necessary – we can’t always manage it, but we do need to try and stay ahead of it. Why are change leaders usually more successful?
- a) Instead of running from change, they look for it.
- b) They know how to find the right changes, and just as significantly, they know how to make it work for their organization!
- c) Will they call them right 100% of the time? No, but that is no excuse for inaction!
Dealing proactively with change is just another example of what I consider genuine Next Level Thinking!
“Change can be tough. But the only alternative is eventual obsolescence.”
Michael Hyatt, Business Author & Coach
If you would like to learn more about similar topics and the tactics our Clients have used to improve their outcomes, as well as what applications of these lessons you can make in your business, please join us for our next Success Strategies Business Navigator Programseries of quarterly workshops in July 2019. They are designed to teach more people the Finance & Strategy Concepts that I offer business people. Signups have begun, giving you the opportunity to learn these same concepts and meet with other producers who have overcome some of the same challenges you may be facing. Check them out at:
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