"Uncertainty is the only certainty there is, and knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security."
- John Allen Paulos
Ever-changing technology, globalisation and hyper-competition have conspired to make most of our professional lives an ever-changing landscape. Add to that a changeable economic climate, political uncertainty and a sprinkling of volcanic ash and voila - you have the makings of constant change and unpredictability.
While your ability to create and execute detailed plans may have served you well in the past, in today's economy and work place, it's your ability to operate in a much more fluid environment that determines your progress.
Regardless of whether you're currently trying to lead a team through change or attempting to navigate your own career through a turbulence, here are 17 tips which may help.
1. Focus on clear outcomes instead of detailed plans
In an ever-changing environment, you need to stay focused on your goals whilst still being light on your feet. So be clear about your broad business objectives, career goals, financial requirements and lifestyle needs - but be flexible about the precise 'plan' you'll use to get there.
2. Stop over-planning
When the goal posts and environment are constantly shifting, it's futile trying to create detailed step-by-step plans (Just ask those people travelling back home from Europe how important it is to be agile)
3. Stop over-thinking
Listen to your gut instincts and intuition much more than your head and detailed plans. When you're operating in the dark, your inner compass is much more valuable than a logical mind.
4. Embrace the uncertainty
Many people have seen amazing sites and places across Europe over the last week because they chose to embrace and enjoy the uncertainty brought on by the volcano and frozen air space - instead of seeing it as the end of the world. They got to drive through the Swiss Alps, the Italian Lakes and the vineyards of the Southern France because of the volcanic ash and the ban on air travel.
So rather than viewing uncertainty as negative, start viewing it as something interesting, exciting and a bit of an adventure. Once you do that, you'll start seeing the possibilities and opportunities brought on by change instead of simply seeing the road blocks.
5. Be open to more than one possibility
Keep yourself flexible and open. The current changes you're facing may take you onto bigger and better things - within your current role, firm or career - or indeed elsewhere. But you won't know unless you keep an open mind.
6. Focus on the present
When you're in travelling in the dark, all you can do is focus on the road in front of you and keep moving forward.
So if you're in an uncertain place right now, stop focussing on the past or the future. Just stay focussed on the present and the road that's opening up in front of you.
7. Break things down and focus on next steps
Is there an idea or opportunity you're drawn towards? Take the first step......then the next step...you never know where it will lead to.
8. Give yourself permission to be a little 'flaky'
When experiencing any kind of change it's natural to think and reflect about what you want from your career (and indeed life). It's also perfectly natural to change your mind about what it is you want.
9. Give yourself permission to be a little 'down'
Constant change often puts on you on an emotional roller coaster. It's okay, there's nothing wrong with you. Whilst people around you might seem to be handling things better than you - they're probably not. It's just a 'front' they're putting on for the outside world.
10. Only focus on those things which you can control and influence
Spending your time thinking about things you can't control or influence is, (like complaining about the weather, volcanos or airlines), a complete waste of time and mental energy.
11. Surround yourself with supportive people to lean on
It doesn't matter how positive a person you are, when dealing with change you will have bad days and will need people to lean on.
12. Experiment more, not less
Try new ways of doing things, test out new roles and new opportunities. What have you got to lose?
13. Be bold. Forget small steps
Major change will often lock you into a corner. And when you're in a corner, baby steps are often no good to you - so start taking bold steps and measured risks.
14. Be committed to taking forward steps
(even when it feels uncomfortable and scary)
15. Be okay with screwing up and making a few mistakes
You'll progress much faster.
16. Get comfortable being uncomfortable
The faster you get comfortable with change, the more successful your career will be.
17. Count your blessings
You know where your next meal is coming from. You know where you're sleeping tonight. So you probably have much more certainty than people less fortunate than yourself. So keep a perspective on things...
Uncertainty really is the only certainty there is - so don't let the clouds of doom (or ash) get to you. If you're open minded, flexible and learn to roll with the punches - you're much more likely to come out a winner - regardless of which trail you find yourself on.
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