Change
is Good: Conquering Resistance to Career Change
Deborah
R. Brown, MBA, MSW
"For
everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under
heaven..."
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Often
we resist the very things we need the most. Clients frequently
wait to call me for career counseling until they have gotten put
on probation, 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.
"Man
never reaches his highest potential when he is safe and takes
things easy."
An old sage
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
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.
"Careers,
like rockets, don't always take off on schedule. The key is to
keep working on the engines."
Gary Sinise
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.
"One
does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of
the shore for a very long time."
Andre Gide
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.
"You
always know in your heart what you need to do. But you do have
to ask yourself if you are willing to make choices. Put yourself
in a position where you're making choices about your life, rather
than letting other people make those choices for you."
Liz Dolan
