CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Change is something we all will face at one time or another as we go through life.
The levels and frequency of the changes are sometimes dictated and influenced by our working environments, families, mission and personal goals. As a first sergeant, most days are filled with constant change, no matter how well time is managed or the priority list is organized.
I spend many hours assisting squadron members who are experiencing an unexpected change in their life or military career. It's sometimes easier to deal with a change when you recognize it's happening to you instead of being caught totally off-guard.
Some helpful tips I want to share when managing change are the following: involve other people in the change process, fully explain the reason for change, view change positively, create enthusiasm for the change, facilitate change and avoid forcing it, be open-minded and experiment with alternatives, seek out and accept criticism and, lastly, never get complacent.
Sometimes recognizing change and even using the tools to manage it doesn't make dealing with it any easier. Finding humor when dealing with a situation often helps to relieve some of the stress caused by the impending change.
A great book that explores change from a humorous perspective is Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson. This story is a simple parable, which involves four characters who live in a maze and search for cheese to eat which makes them happy. Two of the characters in the story are mice named Sniff and Scurry. The second two characters are known as "Littlepeople," beings the size of mice who look and act like real people, named Hem and Haw.
The cheese is a metaphor for what you want out of life, whether it's material possessions, a good job or a happy marriage. The maze represents the place where you search for these things. An example is your work environment or local community where you live. Each of these characters has to deal with an unexpected change; one character learns to deal with it correctly and writes lessons learned on the maze walls. The moral of the story is, when you can see the writing on the wall, this will help you recognize and deal with managing change.
If you're about to experience a big change in your life or career and are having trouble managing it, read this short story for a little humor. Ask yourself two questions after reading this short story: How do I manage change as it comes my way? Which character in the story shares my perspective on change, Sniff, Scurry, Hem or Haw?