Lately, I’ve been noticing a lot of changes. On a recent trip to Florida, I was surprised to see three new retail stores and a coffee shop on a sleepy stretch of road previously reserved for industrial use.
We visited the coffee shop twice during our visit, and found ourselves the only customers.
The store opened in 2021 when Florida was inundated with New Yorkers. It likely thrived that year and the following one.
And now? Well…
Of course, larger changes are pervasive right now in the corporate world.
Nearly every company I work with has experienced some version of restructuring or leadership change or has been acquired by a bigger player.
Change is hard whether it impacts you directly or not.
So how can we navigate it?
Accept the Cycle. Life consists of highs and lows, just like an ocean tide. Ride the highs and enjoy the moment, practicing gratitude when things run smoothly. Think of the lows as an opportunity for reflection and regrouping. A little self-assessment, though sometimes humbling, is always a good thing and an important practice in professional and personal growth.
Let Go. When we experience stress and, let’s face it, change is stressful, some of us want to go into control mode. For me, this showed up when my son started college. As tempting as it was to micro-manage him by constantly checking in and following his location, I forced myself to step back. Have I turned off Find My Friends? Well, no. But I have gotten into the habit of not checking it more than once or twice a day. So if you, like me, find letting go too hard, perhaps try holding on loosely.
Dig Deep. During times of change, we like to control things (see #2). Rather than gripping on for dear life, now is a good time to reflect and dive into your “Why.” To do this, start by listing your passions. Next, identify your skills or competencies. Finally, identify what your organization (or community) is lacking. You may be surprised to learn that your passions and untapped skills are precisely what’s needed right now!
Adapting to change, whether it directly affects you or not, can be challenging but it’s the one thing we can rely on. Better to take it on, full face to the wind.
Let me know if you have any tips when navigating a season of change. I’d love to hear about them!
Embrace the cycle,
