Dealing+With+Change

 **10 Tips for Dealing with Change:** 
 * Everyone goes through change at some point in their life. Change is one of the hardest things to deal with in an organization. People want to remain comfortable and "safe" in their work environments. There are several ways to deal with change and we will describe them in detail below.**
 * 1) Recognize that change does happen.**
 * **The more we understand this concept, the less surprised and overwhelmed we are when it happens. Think about yourself when you were a child or even in college, then think about yourself now. You have changed tremendously and it was for the better. If you can just recognize that change will happen, you will be able to cope much better.**

**2) Be aware of your surroundings.**
 * **Take note of the small things. Be aware of what is going on in your work environment. This might tip you off to the fact that change is in the near future. Knowing that change might be happening will help you better prepare for it.**

**3) Recognize the stages.**
 * **The early stages include shock and denial (refusing to believe what has happened and instead believing everything will be all right), guilt (at not having done or said more or for not being the decedent), and anger (at the decedent or at God). Later, one passes through the stages of acceptance (acknowledging what has happened) and moving on. With respect to organizational change, an additional “negotiations” stage can occur in which the affected person offers to work harder as a way of preventing or forestalling the change.**

**4) Communicate with others.**
 * **Do not just sit back and wait. The more information you have, the better prepared you are to make the decision of whether the change is going to affect you or not. Talk to your co-workers, the janitors, your manager, your boss, or anyone who you think might have information about what is going to happen.**

**5) Do a self assessment.**
 * **Companies often use SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) to assess where they stand in their particular industry or environment. You should do this as well. Find out what you are strong at and then find out where there is some room for improvement. Work hard to "sure" up these opportunities for improvement and show that you do add value to the situation, whether the change is happening outside or inside the office.**


 * 6) Be flexible. **
 * **If change is going to happen, you must be flexible. The more flexible and able to adapt that you are, the better chance that you will end up on the good side of the change.**


 * 7) Continue to do your work. **
 * **It is easy to have that attitude because you do not know if your work is going to mean anything tomorrow or the next week. Still, you are being paid to work, so try to do so. Furthermore, that attitude could impress a future boss.**


 * 8) Be positive in actions and attitudes. **
 * **Do not worry about changes that you will have to make. Focus your time and energy instead on creating leverage through your strengths that you found during your self-assessment.**


 * 9) Maintain your network. **
 * **Your network, both inside and outside of the organization, might be your single most valuable asset. Make sure to keep in touch with all of your contacts in case something were to happen.**


 * 10) See the big picture. **
 * **Find opportunities in change. Like we said, change can be frightening, but seeing the whole picture and finding your place in that change will allow you make your way through it.**
 * Who to contact if you have any questions regarding change: **
 * **Co-workers**
 * **Friends**
 * **Family**
 * **Your manager**
 * **Your local Human Resource Manager**
 * **Professional counseling**