Change? What do you mean I have to change? Change for what? Change for whom? Me?!
I bet when you were thinking the same thing when it came time for you to realize that something new was about to happen. Whether it was something at work or at home, you knew that at some point you had to face the reality of change and start doing things differently. No matter how much you try to put up a fight, it’s inevitable—change will win.
Change is a good thing. It doesn’t mean that your life may get any easier, but it does mean it gets better. So how do you surrender to change? How do you incorporate change into you own life?
You adapt.
In order to adapt, you must first take these three necessary steps (some of which may be done subconsciously):
1)      Recognize your challenge and understand the differences between the technical and adaptive elements of that challenge.
2)      Identify who your key stakeholders are and define what each of your and their values, loyalties, and losses are.
3)      Prepare to address your challenge.
Now you may be saying this: “Wait. How does this apply to me making a change?” As you start to engage in each of these steps, an unusual and magical thing happens. You start to realize that the challenges you are facing before the change have to do with the self. Yep. That’s right. You will identify other people who play a role in the challenge; yet, you will start to realize that it’s YOU who needs to recognize and adapt. It’s YOU who needs to communicate effectively and understand the changes that need to be made in order to make things better. Remember that saying, “You have to love yourself first, before you can love others.” It’s kind of like that. You have to understand all of the elements with no expectations going into it. You have to just do. Once you do that, you’ll start to notice the change in others.
Now apply these same concepts to you as a leader in your community, at school, or at work.  Apply these same concepts as a mentor and leader in your Chapter here at SWSG.
What changes did you see?
I bet things are better now, huh?
 

“Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely.” -Karen Kaiser Clark, motivational speaker