Strategies for Thriving in Times of Change

The new US administration has ushered in sweeping changes with incredible speed. The volume, scale, and pace of these changes not only make it challenging for business leaders to plan, but also for families and individuals. This atmosphere of rapid change breeds uncertainty and uncertainty breeds stress. 

How do you continue to thrive as the world changes on what feels like an hourly basis? The key is focusing on self-care, keeping your dreams alive, and stepping up to leadership. By employing a few simple strategies to focus on the things that you can control—yourself, and your development—you can recenter and gain a fresh perspective.

Strategy #1: Self Care is Essential

Lean on Each Other

You’ve heard of fight or flight in response to stress, but did you know there’s another effective way to respond to stress? In the ‘tend and befriend’ response, we tend to those most vulnerable and turn to those around us for support. This response is an excellent way to foster relationships during challenging times by connecting with others for your wellbeing. Take time out of your week to connect with your community, whether it be friends, family, or colleagues—it can bolster your spirits when times are tough.

Make Sense of a Turning Point

It can be tough to see the positive in a difficult situation. However, you can find meaning in your challenges by identifying the downstream consequences of a catalyzing event. By thinking about things in a counterfactual way, you can focus on the silver lining instead of the adverse effects. 

Did you have to cancel a work trip due to budget cuts? Appreciate the positive outcomes of this situation where you now have more time to spend at home with family or connecting with friends.  

Cultivate Gratitude

When stress hits, you can develop an effective coping strategy by focusing on the positive. One way to do this is to reorder your priorities. Focus on the things that bring meaning to your life, like your relationships, personal projects, health, or your favorite parts of your job. Move anything that isn’t worth spending energy on to the bottom of your priorities. Another way to cultivate gratitude is to focus on three items you’re grateful for each day. Share these three things with someone you care about and keep yourself accountable on a day-to-day basis.

Strategy #2: Learn, Grow, and Change

Change is an Opportunity to Grow

One of the most valuable qualities we have as humans is the ability to grow psychologically. Don’t fight your feelings and instead shift to a growth mindset. How can you change your perspective? By choosing to confront your feelings and look at them as opportunities. 

If you find yourself fearing change, failure, or a challenge, look at it instead as an opportunity to grow. Focus on how your challenges can lead to growth in the long term to see the positive arise in difficult situations.

Foster a Growth Mindset

Once you’ve moved from a fixed to a growth mindset, it’s time to focus on developing your frame of mind. There are several ways you can continue to foster your growth mindset, including:

• Set learning goals
• Plunge into new activities like volunteering
• Experiment with new ways of doing things
• Expose yourself to different voices
• Adopt a playful frame of mind
• Become comfortable with incremental change 

Challenge yourself to try one or more of these strategies during uncertain times. You’ll feel empowered by the difference you’ve made in your life.

Strategy #3: Step Up to Leadership

Teamwork is Critical to our Survival

As a leader, you need a solid team to thrive in times of change. Develop teams with psychological safety—a shared belief that interpersonal risk-taking is accepted—to support a healthy, productive work environment. 

To create psychological safety on your team, ask good questions and model intense learning. By encouraging honesty and openness, you will build a culture that showcases the value of working through change together. Empower your team to feel confident in their ability to speak their mind.

Opportunity Through Crisis

Embracing the strategies above better prepares you to navigate uncertainties with confidence. This proactive mindset not only enhances your ability to adapt but also positions you to seize new opportunities as they arise.