Flip the script: Embrace change
Our Generation Z guest blogger is back!
Everybody fears change. No matter how old we are, we fight change, whether it’s negative or positive. Yet, change is necessary. Without it, everything would feel stale and we wouldn’t innovate our processes. In my theater class, a new group of actors joins every year, and every year the group worries about the incoming members. How will they mesh with our group? How will the class change? The truth is, it really doesn’t. We still produce the same, high-quality shows, just with some new faces and acting styles.
So, where does the fear come from? Purely because it’s an unknown, we have no clue how things will work out. But they do. Once the year starts and we embrace the new style of the class, we take off running and figure things out. When we embrace change and new perspectives, we work better as a group. When change is challenged, it still happens but the process isn’t as smooth.
What I’ve learned so far…when we let change happen, we gain new experiences, discoveries and improvements. I imagine it’s the same in the business world. From my theater experiences, I've uncovered a few strategies that help me stay open to change and embrace the unknown:
Be curious: Instead of worrying about how things will be different, try to get excited about what new things you might learn or experience.
Take small steps: When big changes feel overwhelming, break them down into smaller parts. In theater, we don't tackle the whole play at once – we start with read-throughs and work our way up.
Find your support system: Change is easier when you're not facing it alone. Lean on friends, family, or colleagues who can offer encouragement and maybe even laugh with you about the awkward moments.
Keep an open mind: Sometimes the changes we resist the most end up being the best things for us. Try to stay open to new possibilities, even if they seem strange at first.
Everyone feels uncertain about change. It’s all about learning to roll with it!