Ten Tips on Surviving Reorganisation
How to prepare yourself for change and not let change overwhelm or stress you out.
How To Survive Reorganisation
Change is normal, so learning how to not let change overwhelm or stress you is an essential everyday skill. But how do we handle ever-changing workplace dynamics caused by frequent leadership changes and personnel moves?
Resilience to change is about taking control of the aspects of your job that are within your control and adopting an overall attitude that protects your mental health.
How to Survive Reorganisation – Top Ten Tips
1. Know Your Limitations
Understand a change in leadership is out of your control and accept it.
2. Keep An Open Mind
Keep an open mind to this change and be flexible.
3. Clearly Understand Your Own Job
Establish a clear and concise understanding of your job that you can articulate to someone by identifying critical tasks in a clear manner.
4. Relate Your Job To The Business
Be able to relate your job and associated activities to the overall business. If you cannot articulate and relate the critical points of your job to the business, stop and complete this review now.
Seek out assistance if this becomes challenging.
5. Update Goals And Performance Stats
Get your goals and performance measurement statistics up to date. Look back at your most recent personnel performance review document.
Having this baseline of previously approved goals can benefit you when and if questioned on why you are currently involved in something the new manager does not understand or think is important.
6. Promote The Benefits Of Your Role
Figure out a way to associate your job function and tasks performed to the overall organisational goals and promote the benefits you provide.
7. List Your Activities
You may want to have available to list tactical (daily or repetitive) activities and also strategic (long-term) activities.
8. Display Your Abilities
Do not be afraid to discuss issues or problems you are currently addressing if called upon. This is not about whining but showing you have the ability to be a problem solver.
9. Keep An Eye On The Long Game
If you don’t like the job or direction of the company after the change, seek out alternatives internally or outside the company.
10. Refresh Professional Contacts
Maintain your network of professional contacts; even if you have not spoken to some of them recently, do so soon.
I have experienced two new company presidents, three new direct managers, and multiple peer-level personnel reshuffling within the last 14 months myself.
Prepare yourself for change; do not let change overwhelm or stress you out.
Above all, increase your resilience. Take control of the aspects of your job that are within your span of control.
Adopt the “It’s about personal survival” attitude.
This article was contributed by Kent Jacobson
How To Survive Reorganisation
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