Recently, I was driving downstate to a meeting and listened to part of Tom Peters’ book Re-Imagine. He quoted General Eric Shinseki, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army who said, “If you don’t like change, you’re going to like irrelevance even less.” This quote hit me like a Mack truck.
I think it’s a given that most people do not like change. But if you’re unable or unwilling to change, you’ll become irrelevant in terms of your career. So how can change be less uncomfortable or daunting for you or those you work with?
We’re in times of constant change. Many of us have been in this business for several years. There has been significant change over the last fifteen years. No longer can we do business as we have always done. Whether we’re facing change as a result of “sharing services,” budget crunches, changes in software or edicts from the state, we face changes.
When at all possible, it’s important that we act in the face of change, not react to change. This involves keeping all parties knowledgeable of what is currently happening. For instance, let’s look as sharing business services. I’ve always been rather hesitant to bring this up to my superintendent and the board of education, primarily because it’s a bit like farming out my own job. Rather uncomfortable!
However, as I’ve assumed the duties of the elementary coordinator, I found that I don’t have the time to perform all functions of both jobs to my satisfaction. As a competent business manager, I analyze programs and practices in the district. When something isn’t working, we change it. We’re at a point where we need to change the current situation. Educating the board is the next step for my district’s superintendent. Sharing part of our business service with a neighboring district may make sense at this time. We need to involve all parties to assess the situation and find the best solution.
Once a decision has been made to change, it’s imperative to plan. An American proverb sums it up best: It doesn’t work to leap a twenty-foot chasm in two ten-foot jumps. Be forthright with everyone involved about what’s happening. I recently forgot to share a teacher personnel change with a classroom paraprofessional who was directly affected. It wasn’t intentional, but my oversight caused great consternation on the part of our aide. Had I followed my own advice on change and made sure everyone was notified, I would have avoided a rather uncomfortable situation.
There are times where change cannot be anticipated. Gather as much knowledge as possible about the situation, confer with your team, and make the best decision possible. And remember, it’s a lot easier to bend with the change than to break! Enjoy life for all the changes it sends your way! Have a great holiday season.