Are You Ready For Change?

Last week’s article was about Fueling Innovation. In recent articles we have talked about the history of innovation in the U.S., and the continuing need and opportunity for innovation and change.  We have reviewed how the spirit of innovation has played an important role in the history of the United States.

Innovation means thinking or doing something new, but a concept that always coexists with innovation is change.  Along side the history of innovation in the U.S. is a history of people who were willing to let go of the past and embrace the new.  They were willing to leave their homes and venture to a new world, and then to settle new territories time and time again, and to fight for independence and form their own government. 

Change is Letting Go

These were obviously people who were willing to let go.  We have also previously discussed how the U.S. still has many of the components needed to drive innovation.  The question is whether we are still ready to embrace change and let go of the past in order to move forward when the opportunity is presented.

What is the point of talking about change?  Why do you need to be willing to embrace change?  Well, the answer to that question is simple; change is coming.  It is inevitable and those who are not ready to ride the tide of change will probably be swept under by it.   

The constant innovation that takes place in the U.S. and the resulting change means changes in people’s lives, including their work and jobs. There was a time when operators where needed to run elevators and to connect phone calls.  What jobs will be obsolete next?  Customer service representatives?  Cashiers?  Accountants?  We can already see less of a need for call centers as people get information and place orders on-line.  We also see automated check-out lanes.  There is a plethora of accounting software available.  We know change is coming, and typically if we are paying attention we can see it coming. 

Change Is Coming

Should we resist these changes?  Should we be asking for regulations and controls to make sure certain jobs are not lost?  While that might seem like a solution, consider in retrospect; should there have been legislation to save the jobs of elevator and telephone operators?  Of course, this returns to the question of embracing change or fighting change.

It is up to individuals to know if their skills are in danger of becoming obsolete.  Most phone operators were aware of automated switching systems long before they received their pink slips.  The ones who not only recognized the coming change, but prepared for it, were the ones least likely to try to cling to those obsolete jobs. 

Fighting the natural force of change can be like trying to keep the sun from rising. Information systems, robotics, wireless technologies are really just starting to change our world, and the changes will likely start to come even more fast and furious.  Changes are coming, and most likely they are coming to your field.  Are you going to look for them and be ready for them?  Or are you going to ignore them and resist?

Learn to Embrace Change

How can you be ready for change?  Start changing now.  Start with small changes.  Try a new type of food, change you hairstyle, travel somewhere you have never been, learn a new language. Learn to embrace small changes and you will be on the road to embracing the larger changes to come. Think outside the box!

Without a willingness to let go of the past and embrace change, innovation can never take root and grow.  Here in the U.S. we are counting on innovation to take us forward, just as we have counted on it in the past to bring us to where we are now.  What is your role going to be?  Will you embrace innovative techniques and products and make the most of them, or will you resist them in order to hold on to outdated methods and tools?  You have the ability to change.

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Posted on Tuesday, April 24th, 2007 under Business Management & Operations