Regardless of your employment situation, one thing is certain; at some point, your career will change. This is especially true right now in healthcare. It could be a gradual change, such as a job slowly evolving or phasing out, or it could be a sudden change, such as the board of directors mandating a reduction in staff immediately. Regardless of the exact scenario, the key trait that will enable you to reposition yourself and thrive after a career setback is your ability to embrace adaption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unfortunately, many people lack a belief in their ability to adapt. As such, they become immobilized by fear when change is apparent. So, rather than adapt their mindset, approach, and even skills, they choose to stay stuck in their comfort zone, even though it\u2019s no longer comfortable at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Realize, though, that adaption is natural. For example, when you travel to a location that has a different climate than what you\u2019re used to (such as going from Miami, Florida, to Chicago, Illinois, in the winter), the new weather feels harsh for the first day. But after a few days in the new climate, your body adjusts, and the colder temperatures don\u2019t feel as frigid. Your body and mind acclimate, and you get used to the new environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This natural ability to adapt at a physiological level also applies to dealing with changes in your career. You simply need to tap into your natural ability to adapt and apply it to your professional life. The following suggestions will help you achieve that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reflect on Your Past:<\/strong> When change is upon you, reflect back on a few times in the past when you overcame adversity. Identify what you had to do to get through those difficult times. Ideally, choose examples from your past work. If you can\u2019t think of any, then go back to your school days and your personal life. If you really have led a challenge-free life thus far, then think about books or movies where you\u2019ve learned about others overcoming adversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you choose a few situations to reflect upon, determine the actions and attributes that helped you or others in the past. There\u2019s a high probability if you repeat the mindsets and actions that worked in the past, they\u2019ll work for you now as well. This exercise helps you shift your energy from victim to victor. You prove to yourself that success is possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Choose to Associate with Like-Minded People:<\/strong> To keep your mindset strong, surround yourself with individuals and groups who support you in doing something different, rather than those who try to keep you chained to the status quo. Of course, this step is always easier to say than to do, especially when your family or closest colleagues are the ones holding you back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, assess your transferable skills. For example, if you were a manager whose department closed, your skills likely include hiring and staffing. Look at what other promising or growing positions use those skills, and network with people in those jobs. This enables you to actively make connections with new people in an area that has more opportunity than your current work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your loved ones are contributing to your negative mindset, sit down with them and have an honest conversation about the current situation and your options for change. For example, if you realize you need to relocate and your spouse does not want to move, show the reality of the situation. You might say, \u201cIf we remain here, we can\u2019t maintain our lifestyle. We\u2019ll have to downsize to a one-bedroom apartment or move in with family. If we relocate, we can maintain our lifestyle, just in a different zip code. What makes the most sense to you?\u201d Be calm and use specifics when you talk. Chances are the loved one will see the necessity for whatever change is needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do Scenario Planning:<\/strong> Write out detailed scenarios about what can happen if you adapt, if you fail to adapt, and if you somewhat adapt. You need to sketch out all three rather than single point planning, because single point planning can set you up for frustration if the plan doesn\u2019t go exactly as outlined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This sort of triple scenario planning is based on stress inoculation training, which encourages people to anticipate a negative event and explore how they might deal with it in various ways. Should the negative event actually occur, the person has an idea of what to do to overcome it, which makes the negative event less stressful. The scenario planning works a lot like stress inoculation training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, if you\u2019ve been laid off and can\u2019t find a new job in your area, you may decide that your best case scenario, if you adapt, is to find a job you love \u2013 one that pays great and offers high satisfaction \u2013 albeit in a different part of the country. If you fail to adapt, that scenario may include you moving back in with your parents and working at a low paying job that you hate. And, if you somewhat adapt, perhaps you find a good paying job in your town, but you\u2019re doing work that doesn\u2019t give you much joy or satisfaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With these three scenarios detailed on paper, you have the option of choice. Which scenario do you want to pursue? Now, instead of becoming paralyzed with thoughts like, \u201cI don\u2019t know what to do next,\u201d or \u201cUntil I figure out what is the right decision, I\u2019m not going to do anything,\u201d you can make an informed choice of the best way to overcome your current situation. If you are involved in joint decision-making with family, share what you wrote with them so they can be part of the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Embrace the New Reality:<\/strong> Make no mistake, everyone\u2019s career is going to be affected at some point in his or her life. This isn\u2019t an \u201cif\u201d scenario; it\u2019s a \u201cwhen.\u201d So, even if your work life seems to be going well, start developing your capacity to adapt so that when change occurs, you know what to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re in the midst of a change and need to adapt quickly, remember that learning is inherently difficult because you often feel awkward, incompetent, and insecure for a while. Eventually, though, you become so fluent in the new knowledge or routine that you can\u2019t imagine your life any other way. Therefore, the sooner you start cultivating and embracing your ability to adapt, the sooner you can thrive in your new situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Marty Martin is the director of the health sector management MBA concentration and associate professor in the College of Commerce at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. His second book, <\/em>Taming Disruptive Behavior, will be published this year by The American College of Physician Executives (ACPE). He is currently working on his third book<\/em>, Do You Have Career Insurance? For more information <\/em>visit www.drmartymartin.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n