The New Year is often a time of change.  As we welcome in the New Year, it’s important that we are prepared and willing to embrace the change that might take place this coming year.  The reality is, change is inevitable.  There is always going to be something new, a new way to teach, a new textbook, new technology or new systems.  We can’t control change. What we can control is how we handle it; we can be change masters or we can be change resistors. The choice is yours!

It’s only natural for us to resist change, it takes us outside of our comfort zone and often forces us to expand and grow.  We might dislike change because we fear the unknown, fear we might lose something or fear the possibility of failure.  As we move into the New Year, we need to anticipate the changes that might take place not only in our professional lives but in our personal lives.

Here are some helpful tips to help you become a change master, not a change resistor.

Avoid the Killer Attitude – When we are faced with something new, we often adopt what I refer to as the killer attitude.  It’s when we catch ourselves saying or thinking common phrases like “we’ve tried that,” “that will never fly,” “we don’t have enough people power,” and one of my favorites “yeah, but…” I encourage you to stay clear of these killer attitudes.  These phrases prevent us from becoming a change master.

Anticipate & Monitor Change –  As the New Year approaches, anticipate change to occur and pay attention to what is happening and be prepared to make the necessary changes.   Avoid getting caught up in over-evaluating the circumstances.  Try networking and brainstorming with your colleagues on what challenges exist and more importantly, what opportunities change might bring.

Remain Positive & Enjoy Change –  Attitude is everything!  In order to become a change master one must embrace a positive attitude and approach change with an open mind.  Think of change as a great adventure and let go of any fears.

Becoming a change master can be accomplished by remaining open to new ideas, being flexible, acting and adjusting quickly, all while remaining positive and optimistic.