The point is to change it...

The point is to change it…

For companies, the ability to continually change and adapt is vital to maintain or improve market share. And the same is true of people. 

According to research carried out by Hay Group, exceptional performers in the workplace display a range of emotional intelligence strengths which, in tandem with their professional skills, mark them out as outstanding leaders.

These include emotional self-awareness, self-confidence, empathy and adaptability.

And one factor that appears more than once in this research is the ability not only to cope with change but to initiate it.

Exceptional performers not only accept feedback, they solicit it. They not only handle unexpected demands, they change their strategy to cope. They not only support change, they champion change.

Basically, they enjoy shaking things up!

What  happened to “being in the moment”?
I am a big fan of celebrating success and enjoying the moment. After all, what is the point of achieving anything if you aren’t going to enjoy it?

But once you’ve done that it is time to move on again. Sitting around complaining that things aren’t better, without taking action to change the situation is unlikely to be an effective strategy. And even luxuriating in your achievements for too long can be the first step towards stagnation.

Karl Marx wrote: “The philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways; the point is to change it.”

And as we start thinking about what we want for 2005 it is worth remembering that one of the things we can guarantee is that things will change, whether we want them to or not.

If you are looking for a sure fast way to prove your value to your organisation or take charge of your life outside of your work, embracing the concept of change is a great place to start. After all, wouldn’t you prefer to have an active involvement in the changes that affect you rather than standing on the sidelines, philosophising about them?