Change in the Workplace: Don't Fear It; Use It!

Every day something changes at work: your products, your customers, your delivery schedules, your company's policies. Do these changes negatively affect your company and your sales? Why do you let them? These constant changes can cause you to lose focus and lose sales, or they can propel you into greater success. It's YOUR CHOICE!

People fear change because it pushes them into the unknown, and one of the greatest fears in the world is the fear of the unknown. While this is natural, there is a way to control your fear and turn it into the creativity needed to generate more sales.

Because fear is such a strong emotion, it creates an enormous amount of energy in a person. The problem with this is that the energy tends to be negative and destructive. People who fear change see themselves as the victim. They feel unprepared and inadequate to conquer whatever may come before them. Most of all, they feel they have no control over the situation.

These insecurities are internally damaging to one's focus and motivation and externally destructive throughout the company. When people are afraid, they spew out all sorts of negative comments to others. They ask themselves, "Now what are we going to do?" While it may not be intentional, their fear is damaging to themselves and to those around them.

Fear, however, does not always have to lead to negative energy. You can turn fear into positive energy by CHOOSING TO DO SO. When everything around you changes, throw away your doubts and insecurities and do the following:

1. Be strong in your convictions.

2. Be confident in your abilities.

3. Be proud of the work that you do.

These three things will allow you to turn the energy that fear can create into POSITIVE energy. You will use that energy to become a positive change agent within your organization, and you will begin to control your situation.

Although it may be easier to react negatively, challenge yourself to find the positive aspects and opportunities that lie within every change. When you see change as a challenge and an opportunity, you will get excited about it! Change your perspective, and you'll change your attitude.

Changing your attitude will, in turn, change your results. While others are still moaning and groaning, you'll be on the phone with future customers, discussing your new opportunity.

Your energy and new and improved attitude will become contagious and will spread quickly throughout your company. You will be a positive influence to those around you. It is all up to you.

So the next time you are presented with a change, remember to stay positive and to challenge yourself to find the opportunity within it. Your choice to stay positive is all in your mind. You control your mind; you control the situation; you control the outcome.

Tom Richard helps companies grow their top line by improving the way they interact with their customers. To sign up for Tom's weekly ezine or to buy his new book; visit http://www.tomrichard.com