These days, change in the workplace can cause anxiety and feelings of dread. Employees get stressed by the mention of the word alone. We live in an environment now with many unknowns. Organizations often have to make hard decisions because tomorrow could be different from today. As a result, employees brace for the worst. For instance, online selling skyrocketed during the early stages of COVID 19. This was great for businesses. But, it also meant salespersons across many industries lost their jobs as more people shopped on the internet. So, how do you deal with change today? – Especially when the outcome does not favor you. Aside from logic, use emotional intelligence.
It’s not that hard and here’s how you’ll go about it.
Identify your emotions. Do you feel fearful, angry or sad with upcoming changes in your workplace? Knowing what emotions you are experiencing will help you respond to things beyond your control. For instance, ask yourself why you’re irate? At first, you might think you’re angry at the decision-makers in your organization. However, the real source of your anger is your feelings of powerlessness. Yes, change can make people feel impotent, especially when others can make decisions that affect their lives. This leads to the next step.
Accept. Acceptance means being aware of what you feel. When you are honest with yourself, you can pinpoint the source of your emotions. Denying you’re angry, for instance, will not help. Also, have you heard of the expression “it is what it is”? It’s meant to describe a situation that cannot be changed. An example would be the death of a loved one. People who acknowledge their grief adapt to their loss better than those who do not. Lastly, when an organization decides on a course of action, there’s no turning back unless it’s proven to be a mistake in the future. So instead of resisting, give change a chance.
Be hopeful. Hope is a positive emotion. People who believe that things will turn out well have better chances of success. Consider change as a stepping stone to more possibilities.
You might be unaware of the benefits of changes in the workplace. Also, it’s not always about individuals. Decision-makers think about what’s best for everyone. Maybe, sacrifices have to be made.
So, being laid-off is not the end of the world. It only means it’s time to explore other opportunities.
Here’s something to think about. Before becoming famous, Walt Disney was fired as a cartoonist of the Kansas City Star newspaper.
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