One doesn’t have to be a philosopher or a scholar to realize that the only constant in life is change. Ever since we’re brought into this world and begin our intriguing, beautiful, individual journeys in life, each moment and each day changes things for us whether directly or indirectly. From small decisions to big ones, from things that go wrong to things that go just the way we want them to, our life becomes a dynamic sum total of all these elements. The same constancy of change that characterizes human life in general is reflected in each aspect of life as well; including business. Characterized by human interaction and inherently dependent on people, businesses are nothing but a manifestation of human life. Naturally, the idea of change is also very dominant in business.
Although the dynamism of business has always been characteristic to it, the 21st century has intensified change. The culminations of a few centuries worth of growth and industrialization, business processes and practices in this century are at such a peak of efficiency and speed that has never been experienced before. As a result, change has become a guarantee. As with all drastic changes, businesses were also subject to a lot of resistance in this era of perpetual change. Caged in a mindset of ‘this is how we’ve always done things’ many businesses and the talented yet rigid pioneers behind them fell prey to the changing times. In this century while a record number of new businesses have entered the global market and it is much easier now than ever before to bring your entrepreneurial dreams to life, it is also much harder for incumbents to stake their claim in the market.
Set in old ways and engulfed in the familiarity of old practices, often businesses don’t realize just how important it is to move with the times. Despite the challenge disruptions has brought on over the past few decades, this tale is still as old as time. Throughout history, change has been alienating and the only ones to successfully come out as champions through change have been the ones with foresight, determination and an acceptance of change. At the risk of sounding cliché, the only way a business can succeed in today’s world is by embracing change. When change at an organizational level is perceived as the enemy and something that must be overcome, businesses set themselves up for resistance that is of their own making. In a culture that resists change, the actual resistance that is being created is for growth.
When the organizational psyche is closed off and does not look at change as a possible opportunity, the company is bound to be stuck in the same processes as always. What businesses don’t realize is that change represents risks; however, the risk can be both positive and negative. In many cases it is change itself that when capitalized on takes businesses to new heights through innovation and creativity. The inability to perceive change positively and as a possible opportunity represents a mindset lacking innovation and creativity, the very things that lead to success. Organizations need to gear up for the future; change is never going to stop and your only friends forward are a broadened approach and the acceptance of change.
