Being aware of potential “blind spots,” adjusting your process to accommodate change, and openly engaging co-workers and management in the process, will help you better adapt to change.
For years, I have been a fan of Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers (Tom and Ray Magliozzi). Their weekly NPR radio program gives sound advice and ‘tricks of the trade’ to drivers everywhere. One segment I remember particularly well was about adjusting mirrors to avoid blind spots while driving. Wouldn’t it be great if step-by-step instructions came with our careers, so we could “avoid the blind spots?”
Ray and Tom’s steps for mirror adjustments draw some interesting parallels to workplace adjustments we can make to better anticipate and navigate change.
“Step 1 – Start by setting your rearview mirror as you normally would.”
- How well do you recognize the everyday factors that influence your projects and your career?
- Do you turn a blind eye to them and forge ahead with a “whatever” attitude?
- Or do you level set and plan each day by identifying how best to engage co-workers and processes?
- Do you engage in a way that will drive people, programs, events, and activities forward to achieve specific goals?
Taking the time to plan out your day helps balance your workflow and anticipate changes that might occur. Then, if changes do occur, you won’t be blindsided, you’ll know exactly where you are in your process, know where to pick up, and know what to adjust when change does occur.
“Step 2 – Left Side Mirror Alignment – Set your left side mirror so that as soon as the passing car’s left, front headlight disappears from your rearview mirror, it appears in your left, side mirror.”
When change does occur in the workplace, adjustments are required to make everything line up perfectly. Be proactive in finding out what “next steps” are necessary for your role, and function so that you can align your efforts to the new objectives, processes, technologies, and collaboration approaches that may be introduced.
“Step 3 – Right Side Mirror Alignment: Then do the same thing on the right.”
Once workplace changes have rolled out, be sure to take the time to adjust your routine to accommodate change and facilitate ongoing progress.
“Step 4 – End result? No huge blind spots.”
When coping with change, you have to first rely on your own good work habits. Now, examine how flexible those habits are adapting to people, programs, events, and activities that may turn on a dime, requiring you to get used to a new way of doing things.
The good news is that being aware of potential “blind spots,” adjusting your process to accommodate change, and openly engaging co-workers and management in the process, will help you better adapt to change.
As always, we’d like to hear your perspective on the topic. (And we hope you enjoyed the additional info on adjusting your car mirrors for greater visibility!)
*Note: “Step” quotes attributed to NPR’s Cartalk
Ask yourself:
Am I being realistic?
Very few can thrive in a chaotic atmosphere. You won’t bring your best self or your best work in the midst of chaos…and holidays are chaotic. Evaluate what you can manage during the holidays. Commit to that readjusted, internally motivated production schedule, and adhere to it. Rally your colleagues and pursuits of project goals ‘after’ the holidays.
Practice acceptance.
During the holidays, moods, and emotions become especially unpredictable – maybe for you and perhaps for those around you. If tempers and attitudes seem especially fragile, accept them for what they are and be sensitive to the ‘triggers of the season’ (over-budget spending, diets gone awry, missing loved ones). Let your silent gift to others be compassion and understanding, and not adding fuel to the fire.
Balance your work plans with your life plans.
Work doesn’t go away during the holidays. Holiday demands of shopping, baking, entertaining and visiting others doesn’t go away either. Set aside specific days-times-agendas for your office work and for your personal needs. Treat each set of plans independently and give them the focus they deserve. At work, don’t think about gifts you want to give. Likewise, when taking care of personal shopping and activities, don’t have your cell phone and computer at the ready to jump into office mode. You’ll thank yourself for this strategy with a much more relaxed and enjoyable holiday.
Add a little “No-no-no” to your “Ho-ho-ho!”
Saying YES to the whirlwind of activities (at work AND at home) during the holidays, can leave you over-committed and utterly overwhelmed. Take a breather. Colleagues, friends, and family will understand if you can’t participate in every project or activity. If a work situation dictates overtime during these times, remove something else from your agenda to make up for lost time. It may be as simple as effective re-prioritization of project activities and looking at planned tasks in new, more creative, and more expeditious ways.
Lastly, set aside the important “me” time you need to stay healthy.
We all live disruption during the holidays. But don’t let holiday eating and rushing sabotage your otherwise healthy lifestyle. You can restore your inner calm by setting aside just 15-20 minutes a day just for you. Exercise. Take a walk. Stargaze at night. Listen to music. Read a book or magazine. Be still in meditation or writing.
These simple strategies will help unclutter your mind and help you cope in any disruptive times, be it holidays, projects, or work restructuring.
