Heraclitus philosophized “the only constant is change.”

No matter how much we want things to remain the same, something comes along to change them.

Change comes in many forms and often requires us to venture outside of our comfort zone. Sometimes change is exciting, but you may also find yourself uncomfortable – there is no avoiding change.

The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails. William Arthur Ward

Learn from the past, don’t live in it

You can learn from the past, taking those lessons into the future, but you must not live in the past. Dwelling on what was will cause heartache and bitterness; leave those thoughts behind and look forward. Be the one to say, “this can help us grow” rather than “but we’ve always done it this way.” Be open to change and avoid stagnancy, even if it is the polar opposite of ‘the norm.’ You never know, it may ultimately improve processes, business function, or life overall.

Be patient & understanding

It takes time to adjust and though it seems immediate, change doesn’t happen overnight. Give yourself and others an adjustment period to understand and process the change. Be patient, ask relevant questions and recognize this modification may be driven by reasons you may never know.

You may not be the only person uncomfortable with the change. Perhaps your boss or co-workers are also uneasy about a business expansion, shift, or change in leadership. You never know how others are feeling, making this the perfect time to practice patience and communication – keeping in mind the end goal is growth and understanding.

Fake it ‘til you make it

This mantra may sound counter-intuitive, but when there’s confusion or emotion surrounding change, sometimes it’s best to reserve judgement until full understanding is reached.

Allow time to see how things fall into place…or not. Once you genuinely make an effort to understand the change, decide if it’s a direction you agree with. If not, it’s okay. But instead of going negative, try offering constructive feedback. It may provide the opportunity to address frustration rather than releasing it on others, ultimately avoiding a toxic environment and animosity.
Overall, just give it a chance, you might be surprised with the outcome.

Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. George Bernard Shaw

Take a different path

After you’ve been patient, understanding, looked to the future, and faked it, you may decide the change still doesn’t work for you – that’s okay. Differences between people enrich a team and challenge thoughts. However, if the change seems to be working for others, it’s important to adapt and make the change applicable to you.

Have the courage to change where you are, not what you are. Disagreement with the change does not make you wrong! It does give you the opportunity for personal growth and the ability to improve your surroundings to fit you, not the other way around.

The faster you let go of preconceived notions, the sooner you embrace realities and enjoy life. Change happens, but attitude makes all the difference.

AUTHOR: GINA ABATE (PRESIDENT AND CEO)

Gina Abate joined Edwards in 2013 as a Senior Vice President. Appointed President in June 2013 and CEO in May 2016, she is responsible for the direction, leadership, and performance of Edwards. Gina actively runs day-to-day capture and delivery of products and services across the company’s three Strategic Business Units, contracts, finance, human resources, business development, proposals, and technology solutions. Under her leadership, Edwards expanded its offerings to include cybersecurity and IT services, complementing a strong enterprise management and training history. Gina’s strong leadership, industry knowledge, and board positions, enables strategic plan development for growth and to advance the company’s mission.