Lesson #7: Change

While at the Foundation my biggest lesson has been the importance of adapting to change. I’d describe myself as a very organized person, and while that’s been helpful in scheduling things in both my personal and professional life, it’s been a learning experience handling change.  

You could have the most well thought out plan, however the majority of it might completely change due to priority shifts, workforce changes, the social environment, etc. There are a million reasons as to why something might not go as planned, and it’s been interesting and challenging to react and adapt to the changes that have come up. 

So if you’re faced with change what the heck do you do? This is what I’ve found works for me. First, take a deep breath. It’s easy to get caught up in the sandstorm of change, but I find it incredibly helpful to take a second, process the news, and then go into planning. Second, truly try to understand how this change impacts not only the specific situation, but also any lasting or larger impacts. For example, is a key person leaving a project? If so, how will that affect the progress of the project, as well as your organization’s ability to reach specific strategy goals? In my experience, the impact of change is not in isolation. 

I think overall, it can be helpful to think of change as a good thing. It’s inevitable that parts of our plan won’t go as anticipated. All we can do is be as prepared as possible and ride the wave of change once it arrives. If you’re an avid planner and organizer like myself, sometimes change can be very overwhelming, but embrace what you can, and try to see the positives that it can bring as well. 

That’s it for me this week, see you again soon with another lesson! 

Best,

Meagan