The Inevitable Changes Transitioning Veterans Will Experience

All veterans, whether you have served 2 years or 22 years, will experience extensive changes as you make the transition into working in the private sector. Of course military life is full of changes - changes in duty locations, being ready to deploy at a moment's notice if necessary, and changing assignments. However, there is security and a sense of constancy in the military that will be disrupted with your transition.

For many people, to varying degrees, change can be a major producer of stress. There are all sorts of uncertainties that lie ahead. Let's look at a few of the most common changes that veterans face.

• Job security. Although there has been some downsizing - or force shaping - happening in the military, for the most part service members don't have to worry about their employer doing massive layoffs or closing their doors unexpectedly.

• Friends and coworkers. Service members move wherever the military chooses to send them. When transitioning, many veterans choose to move across the country, thus leaving behind their close friends and the coworkers they are used to.

• Structure. Although you must be flexible in the military, you often know what to expect. No matter what is thrown your way, there is a very strict, rigid structure in place that you can count on. The fear of the "unknown" civilian world causes stress for many veterans.

• Freedom. You can't dress as you want, style your hair any way you want, get tattoos and body piercings where you want, or quit whenever you want in the military. The freedom that veterans face when they transition can be both freeing and daunting all at the same time. 

• Management Style. Military leaders take a "holistic" approach to managing their team. They get involved in their team's personal lives and their financial stability. In the military, it is as though you are a member of a very large family. Like most families, the military encourages mangers to stay current in what is happening in the members of their team's personal business. This approach does not happen in the private sector, in fact it is frowned upon. This change in leadership style can be difficult for service members to overcome.

Check back on Thursday and we will explore the different symptoms of stress and what you can do about it.

Yahoo! edicts and coping with big workplace change

Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer set the business world abuzz this week with her edict that Yahoo! employees will no longer be able to work from home. Many viewpoints from both sides of this decision have surfaced, with some considering her a hero while others reviling her for an apparent attack on work-life balance and other morale-killing signals it sends.

No matter how the issue is examined, Yahoo! employees affected by the decision are facing big change. Their lives will be disrupted and the way they work will be drastically different. Some might be considering whether or not they want to continue with the company. Before they make any drastic decisions there are some career coaching questions I would ask these employees to help them better come to terms with the change in front of them:

1. What does this change mean to you? I would have Yahoo! employees imagine themselves as a fly-on-the-wall in a room, observing how they cope with this decision. What behaviors are they noticing? What feelings are they experiencing? These observations will help them to understand what the change means for them and help them articulate their perspectives on the change.

2. What is hard to let go of? Yahoo! employees need to be direct about what they are ultimately struggling to let go of. Concerns about the commute, the alternate child-care arrangements, and the lack of work-life balance are really masks covering up underlying feelings of distrust, unfairness, and a lack of respect. This question elicits the surface "hurts," which lead to the feeling beneath. Articulating these feelings will enable them to spend some time with them, processing and contemplating.

3. How is your perspective serving you? All of our feelings serve us in some way, even feelings of anger, frustration, disappointment, and unfairness. Yahoo! employees need to get clear about how these  feelings are helping them, which may seem like a strange question at first but makes sense in the context of moving forward. When we understand our perspective and how it serves us we can decide whether to indulge this perspective or another one.

4. What's possible now? The decision to eliminate the work-from-home privilege has been made and there is no changing it. This question gives Yahoo! employees a chance to consider the future...a future they can create. Maybe what's possible is looking for a new job, or relishing the opportunity to create stronger collaborative relationships with co-workers. Some might view this opportunity to make their mark on the company or decide that a Silicon Valley job isn't for them. Possibilities abound through whatever the employee wants to create, so long as he/she is feeling empowered by the decision.

How would you approach a change like this in your workplace? Leave your comments below.

Create a Personal Change Management Plan to Reduce Stress

There is an old saying that the only two sure things in life are death and taxes. However, I think we can safely add change to that same list. Even if your spouse, your job, and your house stay the same, the world changes all around you.

Earlier in the week, I talked about setting goals and creating a plan to successfully accomplish your New Year's resolutions. Most of the time, these involve making changes in our lives. When we plan for change it is often easier to deal with and make adaptations. However, when change is unexpected we can experience stress that causes symptoms that manifest in our behavior, emotions, and physical well-being. Change and the uncertainty that comes along with it can produce stress.

Since we can not always anticipate change, I suggest having a change management strategy in place at all times. By making whatever preparations you can make in advance, you can learn to better "roll with the punches" that life throws your way. Here are some ideas to help you formulate a change management plan.

• Define your support system that consists of people you know and trust. Break down your support system into categories - such as family, friends, church, and professional organizations -  and then write down the names of all the people in each category. You will be amazed at how quickly your list of support resources grows.
• Communicate openly. Talking with someone you trust - someone from your support system - will help you function better under the pressure of change. Select someone you find inspirational and positive so that you don't need to shoulder this burden alone and keep it all bottled up inside.
• Clearly define your priorities and your goals. As I talked about in my post earlier this week, keeping your goals on paper helps you clearly establish your priorities and keeps you focused when you have a setback or experience unexpected change.
• Keep yourself healthy, no matter what is happening in your life. Exercise, healthy eating habits, and sufficient sleep are important ways to manage stress and deal effectively with change.
• Identify the problem that is causing you stress. Is it the loss of the job, the loss of the income, or the stress of going through an interview that has you most worried about your layoff? Once you know the source of your stress, you can evaluate your options and move toward finding a solution. Until then you are just spinning your wheels.

Stage 4 of the 4 Stages of Change and How to Overcome Obstacles.

This is the fourth and final installment of my four-part blog series based on Dr. James Prochaska’s Transtheoretical Model of Change and my observations about how it applies to job seekers. Dr. Prochaska states that each time someone who is contemplating a change moves from one stage to the next, their chances or being successful in the long term double.

Stage 4 – Action
This is the stage where most people think they need to begin to really affect a change. Although this stage is the important part of where we actually start doing things, don’t forget the importance of the earlier stages of planning, preparation, and contemplation.

In this stage you are beyond thinking about and planning your change and you actually start taking some important steps toward change. As a job seeker, this may be the stage where you start your education to change careers, start preparing a resume that focuses on your transferable skills, or even begin the job search process.

Obstacle:
Insisting on perfection as opposed to progress or having unrealistic expectations about how fast you will see tangible results.

Strategy to Overcome and Move Forward:
You must change your thinking to realize that change is an ongoing process of action, not the pursuit of perfection. Reward yourself for small successes and focus on your actions instead of outcomes. If you have gone through the three earlier stages, you should have a good action plan with clearly prioritized key activities. Whenever you stumble, return to your plan. You may need to modify or evolve your plan and your goals as you learn more about the new career, job, or company that you are targeting.

Obstacle:
Slipping into old behavior patterns (or going back to your safe, familiar career or job) due to stress or habit.

Strategy to Overcome and Move Forward:
A strong support network is important. It can strengthen your commitment, offer you increased accountability, and enable you to receive outside recognition for your small successes. Before embarking on the action stage, proactively identify the potential obstacles you may face and have a plan for how you can overcome them. See your obstacles as learning experiences and celebrate when you are able to overcome them without returning to your old habits or the safety of your old career.

Stage 3 of the 4 Stages of Change and How to Overcome Obstacles.

This is the third installment featuring how Dr. James Prochaska’s Transtheoretical Model of Change tool applies to those people who are looking to make a change in their job or career. We all know that permanent, long-lasting changes rarely happen overnight. Most changes take time and effort and they tend to be an evolutionary process.

Stage 3 - Preparation
In my two earlier blog posts about the precontemplation and contemplation stages, I talked about job seekers or career changers who lack motivation or lack confidence. However, when someone is in the preparation stage of change, they are decisive, confident, and ready for action. At this stage, they have decided that the pros far outweigh the cons of change and they have begun to make small steps toward change.

Obstacle:
Ironically, the greatest obstacle in this stage of change is underestimating the amount of preparation that is needed and plowing forward to the action stage without the necessary skills, knowledge, or tools.

Strategy to Overcome and Move Forward:
In order to avoid getting stuck in this stage or failing to be successful due to a lack of preparation, the best strategy is to take the time and make the effort to prepare. Do your research of the career field, get a realistic view of the company you want to target, and ensure you have all the tools necessary. For example, you can’t make expect to make a career change by using the same resume you used in your previous career – this would be the perfect example of an inadequate tool.

Obstacle:
Fear or pride can get in the way of admitting you need help and reaching out to ask for assistance.

Strategy to Overcome and Move Forward:
Rally the support of your friends and family. They will not only be your cheering section, they can also serve to hold you accountable to your goals! Once again, reach out to a coach, mentor, counselor, or professional advisor if you feel that will improve your potential success.

Stage 2 of the 4 Stages of Change and How to Overcome Obstacles.

In an earlier blog post I addressed the first stage of change that was based on Dr. James Prochaska’s Transtheoretical Model of Change tool. One of the key elements of Prochaska’s model is that it flies in the face of the “just do it” mentality of jumping in with both feet to change. The “just do it” mentality causes us to jump right past the preparation stages. However, according to this model, that preparation and contemplation is exactly what we need to ensure we don’t jump into action, only to fail before our changes are sustainable.

If you are considering changing your career, or just your job, these stages may help you figure out where you are, and more importantly how to overcome your obstacles.

Stage 2 – Contemplation
Unlike the people who are in precontemplation that I talked about last week, if you are in the contemplation stage you have decided that the pros and cons of change are relatively equal. In this stage, you are seriously considering change, but you are either not quite ready to act or don’t know how to get started. In this stage you are beginning to obtain the confidence you will need to make a change in your job or career, but you are still in the imagining, envisioning, and discovery process.

Obstacle:
The biggest obstacle in this stage is a lack of motivation or sense of urgency. Fear of change can often be the cause for this obstacle.

Strategy to Overcome and Move Forward:
In order for a change to be effective, and permanent, you must be excited about the positive potential of the change. Try to identify your key motivators for making a change. Seek out people who have made similar changes and learn from their stories of success. Identify, evaluate, and accept your fears. This will help you to allay those fears of leaving behind the familiar before embarking on the next stage of change.

Obstacle:
People may get stuck in the contemplation stage if they feel as though they are not prepared for the changes they are seeking. You may lack some of the necessary skills, knowledge, or information to move forward.

Strategy to Overcome and Move Forward:
Make the effort to learn new skills, seek new information, and gain additional knowledge. Search for information, supportive resources, new perspectives, or skill-building activities. Seek the advice or assistance of a mentor, coach, or counselor if you feel it will help you make it to the next stage.

Stage 1 of the 4 Stages of Change and How to Overcome Obstacles.

I recently read an article in a fitness magazine about the stages of change in terms of changing your habits to become healthier. However, as I read the article, I began to think that the same concepts can apply to someone who is looking to change their job or career.

The article talked about Dr. James Prochaska’s Transtheoretical Model of Change tool, conceived in the 1980’s. Over my next four blog posts, I would like to explore the four most critical stages from Dr. Prochaska’s theory of change and translate how I think each one applies to job seekers.

Stage 1 – Precontemplation
In this stage, you are not quite ready to make a move. You may wish for change but have no plans to make a change in the immediate future. For people who are stuck in this phase, it often takes a significant life event to motivate them to change their thinking. The birth of a child, the death of a family member, or even a lay-off at work may be the only thing that can motivate you to move forward. However, thinking about making a change has its benefits, as it prepares you to open yourself to new opportunities.

Obstacle:
The biggest obstacle at this stage is the belief that the change will require too much effort or work and will cause unbearable discomfort. People often underestimate the benefits of change and overestimate the costs.

Strategy to Overcome and Move Forward:
Write down all the benefits that you would receive from making a change. Before you can move to the next stage of change, you must recognize that the benefits of change will be worth your efforts. Focus on the positive aspects of what you will receive as a result in making a career or job change.

Obstacle:
Another obstacle in the precontemplation phase is fear from previous failures. These fears often cause us to place limits on what we believe we deserve or are capable of.

Strategy to Overcome and Move Forward:
Evaluate your previous failures and try to define what caused those failures. Was it lack of preparation for an interview, a work situation out of your control, or did you sabotage your own success? Work on improving your sense of self-worth and increasing your confidence before you embark on the next stage of change.

Powerful Questions to Help You Cope with Rejection

One of my favorite quotes is by the author James Allen. In his book, As a Man Thinketh, he writes “circumstances do not make the man, they only reveal him to himself.” When I first heard this quote, its simplicity and truth floored me (though, I must admit, I do prefer more gender-neutral prose). I feel this quote particularly resonates with the job-search process. Some people are able to bounce back from rejection very quickly; others can struggle for weeks…or even longer. The sting of rejection will always exist when we are denied something that we are truly passionate about, but our choices and our thoughts dictate our next actions. If you are willing to commit to a new course of action other than wallowing in the mire of self-pity, use the questions below to guide yourself to more productive outcomes.

What wasn’t I willing to do?

If I am feeling down, on what date will I decide to be productive again?

What about my present circumstances bring me joy?

What are three distinct things I can take away from this experience?

What did I do correctly that I will do again in the future?

What feedback can I receive to improve myself in the interview process?

What new goals do I want to set for myself?

Now that I have shared some of my powerful questions, what are some of yours that help bring you back to center after being rejected in the job-search process?

Embracing Change in Your Professional Life

The professional world is always changing. This is particularly true during a recession, with corporate downsizing, reorganizations, mergers, and acquisitions—all of which impact workers. Common reactions to change can include anxiety, shock, denial, confusion, resistance, and anger. However, if you view change as an opportunity and you take responsibility for your career, you can grow both professionally and personally.

Accept and Expect Change

When you accept that change is inevitable, you won’t be surprised or overwhelmed when it happens. Stay informed about what is happening in your organization and look for signs of change. Be as prepared and as open as possible to the opportunities that accompany organizational change.

Keep Current

Keeping your skills sharp and your knowledge current is always a good idea. This is especially true if a change at work requires you to take on more responsibility, assume a different role, or even begin a new job search. Be sure to regularly update your resume and any online professional profiles with your most current skills and experience.

Stay Focused and Productive

When change is happening all around you, it is easy to become distracted; however, your best response is to stay focused and keep up with the tasks at hand. Not only does this keep your mind from wandering and minimize worry, it could also cause management to take note of and appreciate your efforts.

Take on New Challenges

Frequently, with change comes opportunity to learn or try something new, like taking on a new project or working with new co-workers. Typically during times of change—especially reorganizations or layoffs—extra works becomes plentiful. Help facilitate the change by extending assistance to your manager, wherever possible.