Turn Change Into Chance in Work and Life

Turn Change Into Chance in Work and Life

In this blog we discuss how to turn changes into chances in work and life

A local Cantonese song in Hong Kong used to sing “Don’t you know the world is ever-changing? Only when you identify the pattern of change will you be able to realize change lead to eternity!” Change comes uninvited in life. It happens inadvertently in different stages of life irrespective of age and gender. Sometimes, it brings challenges, hardship or crisis. Other times, it brings drives for creativity, innovation, modification of work behaviours and intellectual flexibility. An example is the recent Covid-19 that caused worldwide deliberation on the ways business, life, study and work can and cannot be done. The use of online communication apps has been an essential alternative to keep work and life moving on, e.g. Zoom, Canvas, Microsoft Teams, Eventbrite, etc.

No business or employees can remain unchanged in the face of the ever-changing business environment and practices nowadays. So, what is the new “recruitment codes” for employers? How should young graduates and workers like you (in reading! ) prepare for the ongoing changes and challenges embedded in life and work?

Click here to read the Chinese version

 

Recruitment Codes in the New World Order

Studies reflect that ‘The competency to successfully adjust to a changing work context is generally referred to as “individual adaptability.” It has even been proposed as a third type of job performance evaluation in addition to task and contextual performance’ (Griffin, Neal, and Parker, 2007; Tucker, Pleban & Gunther, 2010). So, what are the new “recruitment codes”? Do you see yourself possessing one or some of the new traits the new business world is looking for?

 

  • Capability to respond to changes, challenges and opportunities positively
  • Strong ability in organisation and coordination; can interact with different parties
  • Self-motivated, strong communications, problem-solving skills, and proactivity
  • Good team player and can work in a diverse work environment

What possible situations demand “adaptability & flexibility?”

  1. Handling multiple tasks at one time. Test yourself if you can finish three tasks with different talent requirements in an hour with results.
  2. Adjusting communication styles to different stakeholders. Having the quality of being adaptable, the ability to change and be changed to fit various circumstances.
  3. Working around any unexpected changes of circumstances or workload, e.g. changing demand from the clients, delay of supplies or shipment, etc.
  4. Meeting urgent & multiple deadlines: change your priorities or plannings to coup with events and unpredicted long work hours.
  5. Taking up rotating job roles in the face of unexpected circumstances, e.g. Under Covid-19, hotel staff work in both the back office and the frontline customer service, some physical trainers switch job to be a taxi driver, teachers use Zoom instead of in-class teaching.
  6. Taking a flexible approach to handle unforeseen situations is also essential for effective leadership and managing ambiguity and uncertainties.

Charles Darwin (1864) emphasises the Law of “Survival of the fittest”, while Albert Einstein also remarks “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.” Through changes and evolution, you will find the road to success! In human resource development (HRD), employees turn their “KSA” into human talents for the achievement of business goals and objectives. Where nowadays employers are looking more on employees’ Attitude and their intellectual flexibility for change on creativity, innovation and readiness to accept CHANGE! It’s time to rethink shall “A” come first before KS and rewrite the phrase as ASK nowadays. ASK for change and don’t wait till you are asked to, as this time it may not come when you expect it!  [Note: A stands for Attitude, K: stands for Knowledge, S stands for Skills] (Campion, 2011)

 

When you are young, open your experience and you will find more things to hold on to enjoy in each segment of life and work. This “HAPPY” approach may open your experience and help you further drive another hundred miles:

 

Head for new ideas: constantly show a willingness to learn new methods, procedures, or techniques.
Able to handle changes: adapt to change and new ways of working quickly and easily; make suggestions for more effective changes.
Positive mindset: where there is a will, there is a way. There are always more solutions than problems!
Proactivity: shift your priorities in response to the demands of a situation. Opportunities belong to people who work with full preparation!
Yes, I can! Look for positive ways to make it work, say “yes” rather than “no” as a first habitual response.

Adaptability requires flexibility and courage to take up challenges in meeting changes in life-and-work. A Chinese idiom used to say “If the mountain does not wind, the road winds; if the roads do not wind, man winds.” Remember! Where there’s a will, there’s a way!  In the Book of Changes (Yi Jing), it promotes the cyclic philosophy of “Change & Easiness.” When you find a way to alter and to deal with changes or even crisis in life, you will be able to lead an easy and manageable life eventually.  Take the “HAPPY” approach home with you, study well and keep on practising it!

 

Author’s Profile

Turn Change Into Chance_Author Irene Chung
Ms. Irene Chung
is an experienced Human Resource Management practitioner, corporate trainer & consultant. She has over 10 years of part-time teaching experience in degree & postgraduate study programmes, including MBA of overseas universities. She is a former Cambridge Management Award External Examiner, and a professional member of Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management. She is the coach of “The Best Presenter” and “The Champion Team” in the HKACCA Hong Kong Business Competition and Innovative Business Awards in Hong Kong.

 

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