We’re constantly being told that we should embrace change, even love it. But constant change can be unnerving and stressful. It reminds us of a bumper sticker that reads “Every time I find the meaning of life, they change it.”

How do you roll with what feels like daily change and even find joy in riding the waves?

Stay true to the principles and values that ground you. These will keep you sane  and help you make sound decisions in keeping with what is really important. Post your core principles where you’ll see them regularly and make them your compass.

Plan for the future, but not rigidly. You must think about what’s coming down the road, but don’t rely on guessing exactly how the future will play out. Your strategies must be robust enough to work in multiple scenarios.

Tolerate risk. If you play it safe, a more courageous competitor will most likely win. Analyze decisions from multiple viewpoints and remember that there are very few, if any, no-risk moves.

Be a constant learner. Don’t be a dinosaur. Make a point of staying abreast with new ideas and innovations in your field. Keep yourself in touch with the latest technologies that will help you work faster and smarter.

Never, never take the current state for granted. Relationships of today will vanish if they are not nurtured. Business assumptions need to be revisited in light of new information. Regular, disciplined review of your business climate and key stakeholders is a must.

Some changes can be difficult and even painful.  Embracing and enjoying change requires that you see it as an opportunity, not something to be avoided. Some think that in the olden days, the pace was slower and change wasn’t an issue. But Benjamin Franklin had it right even then when he said, “When you’re finished changing, you’re finished.”

Have a question or want some input from Humanergy about this topic? Contact us and we’ll get right back to you!