In Brief
Vol. 5, No. 1 October 2011
A publication for members of the Alliance for Student Activities
Making Change By Seeking It w By Mike Smith One of the most important aspects of life in the post-modern era is the quick embracing of change. Few deny the rapid change that affects our lives today. Those who change effectively will be less stressed, more productive, and more successful. While most people are working to learn how to embrace change, the smarter ones are learning to SEEK change. The goal of embracing change is achieved by controlling reactions to it. Staying calm in the midst of confusion and doubt; remaining focused while others overreact. But to seek change is to realize the power change brings to an organization and to look for ways to find the “next new thing” that is surely coming. Embracing and accepting are reactive—wait to see what change has arrived and then figure out what to do about it. Seeking is proactive—work to discover the change before or just as it arrives. Or, better yet, create the change that will shape the future for your group. Seeking is one great skill we can model for young people because it makes “change” work for us, not against us. In the 21st century changing first and fast must be the goal. The danger inherent in this approach is assuring the quality of the work as it changes so fast. Think about the contest between Apple and Microsoft. For years the business world believed that Microsoft had the right idea by focusing on soft-
ware—think of something and get it out there first, then fix it as soon as you can. That thinking worked. “Good enough” was fine because it was “the new best thing” and it was out first. But Apple decided to focus on innovation, quality of vehicle, and dependability of software. Apple devoted energy to new delivery vehicles. No one doubts that Apple led us to iPods, Smart Phones, and then to the iPad and that their products and reputation made them easy to
To seek change is to realize the power change brings to an organization… create the change that will shape the future for your group. trust and to believe in. It is important to notice that in both cases the driving force is “what is next.” For now it appears that Apple is winning the contest by creating the change.
Cultivating a Change Attitude When cultivating a proactive attitude toward change there are a few things to keep in mind: • Effective change begins with developing the right attitude. • It continues with cultivating a desire to do things better and nurturing our inquisitive nature to expose us to new technologies and concepts.
• It is concluded with thoughtful supportive action.
Attitude Adjusters Hold these thoughts/attitudes in mind when you think about change: • There will be change whether we want it or not. • If we do not “lead” it, it will lead us. •The “good old days and the good old ways” probably were not as good as we would like to think. • Everything we are doing today will be done differently in a few years, if not by us then by our replacements. Glance back 10 years to see what and how we did things. Different, isn’t it? • We cannot control what changes, but we can control how we deal with it. “Deal with it!” • Embracing attitudes toward change makes it easier to seek it. Actions steps to promote positive change—seek, identify, evaluate, implement, and reevaluate.
n Seek. Watch for new technologies and processes that promote change. You can stablish an atmosphere promoting change by: • Encouraging cross training within your group • Promoting dialog with others who do what you do in other places • Sharing articles on new things and new ways of doing things as well as
new ways of thinking about how to do things. • Attending conferences to look for new things, new ideas, and better ways of doing things. • Attending conferences of other professions to see what maks their organizations work. There is no telling what great idea might be hiding in a math conference for an English teacher or in a plumber’s conference for a carpenter.
n Identify. Be what you want to see in your organization. To promote change:
• Create a new letterhead.
while or to limit the exposure to the change until it can be confirmed as beneficial. Set up some process for changing back or again if this change proves unworthy.
• Review the procedures and technologies you use to plan and execute events and activities. • Develop a better understanding of your group culture.
n Reevaluate. A seeker of change is
• Use the word “change” or “improve” frequently to get people in that frame of mind.
always evaluating and reevaluating as he or she looks for different and better ways of doing things.
• Reward people for trying new things.
Making change is a process and when done correctly, makes things better and moves us all forward. Enjoy the journey!
• Support those looking for new ways of doing things as examples for your student leaders.
• Be an agent for change.
• Keep the reasons for change in front of everyone.
• Smile more.
n Evaluate. Discuss outcomes to
• Include some new faces on your committees.
ensure the change produces your desired outcome. Check with everyone to ensure, support, and promote the value of the change.
• Read from a genre you do not usually read. • Change something in your personal area—office layout, your schedule, your dress.
n Implement. Most change has the implementation steps built-in. There are often ways to test a change for a
Mike Smith (mike@differencemakers.com) is a founder of the Alliance for Student Activities and a sought-after motivational speaker. He is a multimedia producer, an on-screen host, and a lifetime learner who enjoys a great reputation as a curriculum writer on subjects ranging from time management through diversity to community service.
In Brief is published five times per year by the Alliance for Student Activities, a nonprofit corporation whose mission is to promote the value of cocurricular student activities and to provide professional development and support for advisers and future advisers. Board of Directors John Glimco, President Lyn Fiscus, Vice President Ann Postlewaite, Secretary Todd Burlingham, Treasurer © 2011 Alliance for Student Activities
Alliance for Student Activities www.alliance4studentactivities.org info@alliance4studentactivities.org