L. Eric Culverson - www.TheCompetenceMyth.com
This discussion series is an excerpt of my book: The Competence Myth - Why your technical skills are no longer enough and what you can do about it (based on Chapter 8: Becoming a Master of Change)
Think back roughly 10 years ago. And then think about just how much has changed in that period. Think back maybe 5 years ago, and again, realize just how has changed. Even the past three years, so one of the things that changing, is the rate of change itself. It’s getting faster, and faster. And that rate is not linear, it’s exponential.
You cannot possibly hope to keep pace by being dragged along, or by standing still. If you commit to standing your ground, the world around you will keep moving forward, and you will move backwards. You need to become a master of change. In the midst of great change, there is also great opportunity, but to seize that opportunity, you’ll need to adapt new strategies and develop new capabilities.
Look, we all know that everything changes over time, in fact, as engineers and technical professionals, we’re actually helping to drive some of those changes.
But at the same time, there are other changes taking place that affect us, directly, and in ways that we may not really care for. But change is here, and more change is heading our way. So now is the time to start positioning yourself so that you ride that wave of change, rather than getting swept away in the undertow.
I’m Eric Culverson, author of the competence myth, why… In this series, I’ll discuss how you become a master of change. I’ll don’t want you to just survive, I want you succeed and prosper. I want you to reach new heights of professional development and personal fulfillment.
Welcome to Workplace 2.0. Companies at every level are different, and the expectations and requirements for you are different. So, do you like change? Probably not, as human, we don’t particularly like change, it’s unsettling, it can be uncomfortable and it can be downright disruptive.
As responsible adults, we naturally seek stability for ourselves and our loved ones. We have worked hard to establish our reputation, job status, and our place within the community. When something threatens that, in any way, our gut reaction is to try to simply minimize the impact. That makes sense up to a point. However, when the volume of change is persistent and comprehensive, then we really cannot afford to stay in that place.
That is the situation we face today. It requires that we reevaluate and redefine ourselves. Only then can we navigate the ever-shifting terrain.
The laws of physics dictate that we can only occupy one space at any given time. So the question is: Where will you be? What space will you occupy? Will you expend your time, talent, and energy in a vain attempt to deflect change? Will you be that last individual who hopes against hope that you’ll be okay in the end? Maybe you’ll hope that someone else or management will look out for you.
Or will you occupy the space of diligent, proactive effort? Will you dedicate yourself to lifelong learning? Will you expand your skills and enhance your capabilities, awaken the leader within, and live your life to its highest potential?
Over the next few videos, I will give you four simple but powerful steps that combine to give you the emotional and psychological basis to embrace the changes around you. More importantly, these steps will give you the courage and perspective you’ll need to move beyond your comfort zone, and start building for the future. The first step is “Acceptance”, and I discuss that in the next video, See you then.