Change can happen in many different ways, some of which we may not even notice right away (especially in the case of gradual change like hair growth or weight fluctuations, for example). Accidental change seems to just happen, while change on purpose is often planned, organized, and executed in action steps so that it is less likely to fail. Do you feel like change is thrown at you and your life, or do you feel as though you do most of your changing on purpose? When unexpected change happens, do you handle it mindfully?
Some changes are inevitable and beyond your control. However, if you initiate changes yourself, they seem to be less intimidating. Because of this simple shift in perception (no control versus full control), fear is eliminated, so it makes sense that maintaining an open mind, flexibility, and a positive attitude – which you can control – can turn the most challenging situation into one of growth and opportunity.
And that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? Openness, flexibility, and creative innovation when opportunities arise from what can feel like chaos.
As with most things concerning mindfulness, this type of mindset and attitude originate from within you, not externally. If you’re a naturally open-minded and flexible person, your ability to handle change has probably been honed already. However, for the majority of people, change can be difficult to embrace and accept at first (read Mindful Leadership and Constant Changes for more on embracing change).
If you find that you have a handle on dealing with change fairly well but you’re not sure how to demonstrate it to lead by example, here are a few things that may help you.
Five Ways to Lead by Embracing Change
1. Attitude is everything. Maintaining a positive attitude can mean the difference between a productive experience and a damaging one. No, you don’t have to wear a fake, plastered-on smile or be a pushover; however, you can consistently remind yourself that everything will work out as it should and to keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities that come your way.
2. Flexibility is key. If you’re flexible and roll with the punches, changes will be a piece of cake for you more often. Your ability to prioritize, overcome obstacles, and work around numerous schedules can help demonstrate your ability to embrace change.
3. Compromise positively. Work with people; this involves finding solutions that work for as many people as possible. You can’t make everyone happy, but reasonability and majority opinions can help you make the right leadership decisions.
4. Skill versatility helps. The more skills you have and the more you know, the better you’ll be able to handle any challenges that present themselves. If you know the ins and outs of several different skills, for example, you can more easily come up with solutions to problems pertaining to those skills without feeling stressed out about not fully understanding something. To build your skill set, simply keep learning.
5. Purposeful communication is for everyone’s benefit. As a mindful leader, you’ve probably learned at least a little bit about how to read people and deal with certain types of people. Communication becomes critical but more difficult during times of change, so think about how to communicate with each of the people you lead. If you have a difficult time communicating with certain types of people, September’s blog posts may be able to help you with that.
No matter how you demonstrate your ability to handle change well, it can make a world of difference for you as well as everyone you lead and work with. Your positive energy can inspire others to stop resisting change, whether that change is accidental or purposely set into motion by you or someone above you in your company. Remember that change will not break you if you don’t let it; in fact, it will most likely make you stronger, wiser, and more at peace overall. As always, continue learning and leading mindfully!
