By John Ahlman, director of Global Events Marketing for Xerox
Let’s face it, change is hard. Really hard. It’s true in our personal lives and it’s certainly true in business. However, in a world where change is happening at an ever-increasing rate, our ability to be agile, move and transform is more important than ever.
It’s an obvious statement, but we all can feel the effects that this hyper world of increasing technology change is having—both good and bad. What perhaps is not so obvious is the notion that if we don’t practice transformation, if we don’t process how to become a better change agent, then why should we expect to be any good at it?
Practice being a change agent. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
One of the best ways I’ve found to drive business and personal transformation is to basically practice. In your personal life, it could mean growing a beard, taking a trip or changing your gym. In your business life it,, could mean to conduct new training, brainstorm a new process or take on a previously unsolvable customer dilemma. The basic idea is to make “change” part of what you stand for as an organization, like any other quality or trait.
Start by asking the question, what are things that we could experiment with to gain a new perspective and force us out of our comfort zone?
They don’t have to be big things, complicated things or things you can’t afford to risk, just things that will start to make the process of change feel as comfortable as not changing—and standing still.
This February, our simple@work event will be held at the Savoy London. We’re sharing how the best organizations are transforming in highly agile and complex environments. Check out the speakers and the agenda at www.simpleatwork.com. What a way to start out the New Year!
I hope to see you there!
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