How Change Develops and Early Adopters
Some of the best businesses are not who they once were. They may still offer some of the original products or services but they aren’t the same. Have you ever considered how change develops?
Mention change and people are going to become nervous, uneasy, and likely afraid. Change feels like a risk to most and anything uncertain may create fear.
People often talk about, no risk, no reward, or they may suggest that the acceptance of change is better than staying in the status quo. Certainly, there is often value in shifting our thinking.
Everything Changes
Everything around us is changing. Given a little time, a lot of time, or sometimes in no time at all.
A vacant lot gets a new home.
The video store becomes a small medical office.
The computer system tells us when it’s time to reorder.
Sometimes change is perceived as developing from past failures. In other cases, it may be labeled as required progress. In nearly all cases, it sparks an emotion for someone.
There is a good chance that the emotions are the result of letting go of something that felt stable, dependable, or even desirable. Things that someone probably worked hard to create, establish, and cared for.
We used to have to make a call from a wired phone, percolate our coffee, or get our music on a record, 8-track tape, or cassette. Yet no one really considers early telephones, coffee percolators, or music records a failure. Perhaps they are not even obsolete.
How Change Develops
Change often develops from need, or an idea to improve.
If you’ve been around long enough, things have changed. As individuals, we learned to tie our own shoes, complete our schoolwork, and report to work.
On the first day of at a new job, it is all new. We don’t always know the people, the culture, or even where to find the restroom.
Just because change is different doesn’t mean that it isn’t worth it, that the past was a failure, or a waste of our time.
What feels like progress to some may be undesirable to others but we are not stopping change.
Understand what to hold on to and what to let go of, because things will continue to change.
How change develops may not be as important as the bravery to be an early adopter.
– DEG
Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSPTM), and corporate trainer that specializes in helping businesses and individuals accelerate their leadership, their team, and their success. He is a five-time author and some of his work includes, #CustServ The Customer Service Culture, and Forgotten Respect, Navigating A Multigenerational Workforce. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.
