Un-Stressing Change

by Tony Hansen, LMHC, PHR, SAP, King County Employee Assistance Program

It has been two and a half years since I started with King County and it’s been a privilege to serve employees experiencing difficulty with many workplace changes such as layoffs, department moves, or management changes.  When I coach employees, I like reminding them that change is a constant and we need to practice resilience so we can operate well in our work and personal lives.

Learning to adjust and deal with the emotional aspects of change can help you master your feelings rather than be restricted by them.

Here are a few points worth pondering as it relates to change.  Practicing these principles doesn’t make change stop but it will be a less bumpy ride:

• Accept that some changes cannot be controlled by you.  Recognizing that some workplace changes are not in your control allows you to focus on what you can control at work.
• Look for positive changes that are taking place.  Has a change in your work responsibilities led you to learn a new skill?  Take a challenging change that is happening at work right now and consider how it is helping you grow.
• Learn to Control your inner thoughts related to Change .  Are you an ‘ain’t in awful’ type of person as it relates to change?   How about changing ‘ain’t it awful’ to ‘I’ll look for the positive side of this situation’.
• Realize you’re not alone with regards to workplace changes.  Everyone in a department is impacted when workplace changes take place.  Create regular opportunities either formally or informally to share feelings and support each other. 

The King County Employee Assistance Program can help you navigate workplace changes through individual counseling and/or training.  Feel free to call Tony Hansen at (206) 263-4572 for an initial consultation.