In this fast paced world that we live, where our lives are ruled by technology and the hours of the day burn out as quickly as a match, it can be difficult to keep our feet on the ground, our minds clear and our sanity intact. On the business side, with all the legislative changes in South Africa and around the world, it can be challenging to stay on track. The world is changing fast, and often where we should be moving forward with the changes, it feels like we are struggling to keep up. 

In every difficulty there lies opportunity - opportunity for growth, opportunity for learning and opportunity to experience relationships. While a lot of people would rather avoid change altogether, it is a necessary part of life. So how does one, specifically a professional or consultant in the auditing and accounting industry, survive the turbulence of change? 

About a year ago we had our offices renovated. And not just partitions and new furniture, I mean everything right down to the kitchen sink. For months our offices looked like a war zone. They were messy, smelly, dusty and through the mess, we had to keep working. We had to pitch up every day, and still give our best. The point I’m trying to make is that change is not clean cut. We think that if we have a plan of action we will not have to suffer through the change. But things don’t always go according to plan and that’s where the life skills that I hope to impart through this article will be helpful.

It becomes more difficult where there are teams of people involved in the change, because people deal with change differently. Some can cope through it, while others find themselves lost and confused. It is times like this where teamwork is so necessary and motivating each other is more important. Some of the lessons I learnt from our office renovations exercise, which apply to many other types of change that we may experience in our lifetime, are as follows:

  1. Expect a mess. Don’t underestimate it. Expect and plan for the worst.
  2. Put plans of action in place to best help yourself and your team to deal with the mess and the stress experienced through the change. Bear in mind that there will be some unexpected bumps in the road along the way. Be prepared to deal with those as they come up.
  3. Deal with the change in stages, rather than as one big project. Smaller pieces are easier to digest. There is great sense of accomplishment when smaller tasks (which contribute to the entire project) have been completed, as this sets up a winning attitude among the team members, and boosts their self-confidence and morale.
  4. Keep everyone in the team informed. When a person has up to date knowledge and an idea of the expectations, they are much more likely to succeed. 
  5. Feedback is important. Encourage your team members to give you feedback regarding the process and the challenges that they may be facing. Feedback encourages them to stay engaged, because they feel empowered and in control.
  6. Finally, motivate each other and keep your complaining to a minimum. Complaining is very contagious and sets off a negative chain reaction which only results in disharmony amongst the team.

 

The reality is that we do not grow unless there is change, and learning to grow gracefully through change is a key skill that will benefit you for years to come. A team that stays connected and engaged through change is a team that will develop a solid foundation upon which future developments will successfully be built. As Robin Sharma says, “change is difficult at first, messy in the middle, but beautiful at the end”. I challenge you to embrace change and experience the many benefits. 

Nicolette Weymouth

Manager | Accounting services, Durban