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Change is Good: Conquering Resistance to Career Change
Debbie
Brown, SPHR, MBA, MSW
Often
we resist the very things we need the most. Clients frequently
wait to call me for career counseling until they are on
perforomance improvement plans, or even worse, have lost their job. This "kick
in the pants" is what they need to take a look at
their work and their life. Sadly, some admit that they
have not been happy at their job, often not just for months,
but years. But they have chosen to ignore their problems
for as long as possible. You might say that not all change
is positive. Like the death of a loved one, for instance.
But even divorce and the break up of a family can be the
catalyst for new beginnings and the opportunity for growth.
And changes in our career or job, even job loss, can move
us toward greater fulfillment in our work. Even when we
are in jobs that we enjoy, many of us look for experiences
for greater growth and fulfillment. I enjoy writing as
a way of expression and to reach a greater audience. So
now I make more time for this activity. Environmental forces,
competition and changes in the way business is conducted,
often force us to make adjustments.
Resistance
to Change: Paying the Price
Resistance
is the force that keeps us from taking positive action,
choosing comfort and safety over challenge and growth.
Resistance to change, along with procrastination, often
keeps people from finding satisfying work. I find that
people who resist change in their careers are often the
same ones who resist activities that stretch them beyond
their "comfort zone " in other areas as well.
Those individuals who embrace change are the ones who find
fulfillment in their careers and in life.
Today
change is the norm. Gains in technology impact how we work.
E-mail allows messages to be sent instantly. And with instant
messages come the pressure for instant action. Changes
in managed care and health care reform impact everyone, not just those who work
in health care. Those who are comfortable with change and
make quick decisions, after gathering and considering the
facts, are the ones who succeed in finding fulfilling work.
If
there are problems in an industry or a company that are
public knowledge, those employees who look for other jobs
will have the advantage over those who wait. If you hesitate
in the wake of an imminent mass lay-off, the market will
soon be flooded with people with your skills and experiences,
making it even harder to get the position you want.
Sometimes
clients come to me who have been with the same company
for 10-25 years. These people are always looking for reasons
to maintain the status quo. "It's not always bad," they
say. Sometimes they have good days. But if someone picks
up the phone and calls a career consultant, it means that
there has been unhappiness for some time, whether conscious
or not.
Sometimes
the status and money that come with the job make it difficult
to let go. Other times it is not knowing what else they
would do if they left this position that has been such
a large part of their life for so long. And sometimes they
cannot imagine a better life. Then they rationalize that
the "grass isn't always greener." The grass might
not be greener right away. We might need to first plant
the seeds and cultivate them. But in this age of instant
everything, the virtues of patience and persistence are
undervalued.
I
also see this resistance when clients ask me if I know
of a recruiter who can find them a job. I explain that
recruiters do not find jobs for people. They identify qualified,
experienced candidates to submit to their client companies
for job openings. Clients often prefer to ignore the fact
that most people get their jobs through networking and
hard work, and that the best jobs can be found through
these means. "No cross, no crown," said William
Penn. The accomplishments that are the most rewarding for
me are the ones that required the most sacrifice and hard
work.
Most
often, career problems do not go away. As Christopher Parker
says, "Procrastination is like a credit card: it's
a lot of fun until you get the bill." And the longer
we wait to deal with our problems, the higher the price
tag. Ever add up the costs of those finance charges? Career
problems that are ignored can result in psychological and
physiological symptoms such as depression, insomnia, changes
in weight, and illness. One of my female attorney clients
experienced hair loss until she changed jobs.
Managing
Resistance to Change
We
can practice getting comfortable with change by making
alterations in areas that are low risk. We can try a new
restaurant, or a different item on the menu. We can vacation
in a new place. We can take up a new hobby. We can change
our routines. We can take "baby steps" to investigate
career options.
A
client I work with is an accomplished professional, currently
being considered for openings as COO in several start-up
firms. These progressive companies are well-funded, highly
innovative, would offer her part ownership, and will take
her in the direction she wants to go with her career. But
she has a firm job offer from an older, established company.
It is a good offer, if she wants to take a step backward
in her career. But the uncertainty of declining this offer
and proceeding through the interview process with these
other companies has her in a stalemate. Although her gut
tells her to decline the offer and get this monkey off
her back, her lack of confidence, impatience and inability
to deal with uncertainty continues to drain her energy.
This
individual gains much of her self-esteem and identity from
her work. If she can make this transition, this change,
she will gain the confidence she needs to make other transitions
later in her life. The only thing we know with certainty
is that this next change will not be her last. And the
skills she learns during this process she will use continually
throughout her life.
Conclusion
Yes,
change can be good! All of us, even those who are satisfied
with our careers need to continually develop new skills.
We need to determine ways to add value to the services
we provide. The key is our marketability. There is no such
thing as job security. Put yourselves in a position where
you are the one to make the decisions about your career.
Don't wait for outside forces to make those decisions for
you.
"For
everything there is a season, and a time for every
purpose under heaven..."
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
