Become a Champion of Change: Insights from Mary Banks

The global economy seems to have everyone on edge, so in constantly changing and unpredictable times, how can we manage life changes and their accompanying anxieties in order to achieve our personal and career aspirations? Mary Banks, an internationally recognized Executive Coach and Organizational Consultant and guest on “Total Career Success” on VoiceAmerica, offered advice on how to become a champion of change and build a successful career in any economic climate.

A New Perspective on Change

Dealing with change is easier said than done. The challenge for most people is psychologically managing change by developing the right attitudes. Mary Banks suggests that this begins with recognizing change as a permanent condition in today’s world. Acknowledging the inevitability of change empowers you to anticipate potential changes and adapt accordingly. You can also make yourself more adaptable to change by identifying the fears, doubts, and insecurities that may challenge your ability to accept change. In career transitions it is especially important that you not let fears or anxiety impede your job search. In today’s world permanent employment is rare, so start looking at your skills and abilities as commodities that can be sold in an open job market.

Preparation, Preparation, Preparation

Although change is inevitable, planning and strategizing are still indispensable, especially when it comes to your career. Preparation will instill in you the confidence and psychological leverage to manage change, career transitions, and job searches. If you are anticipating a layoff or career change, or are beginning a job search campaign, step back and assess your interests and career objectives, and develop a clear method for accomplishing your goals. Remember, you can weather any storm and achieve success if you are passionate about what you do and achieve! When Mary Banks began thinking about a career change, she developed a plan for building her own consulting business that would allow her to apply her skills and strengths and pursue her passion. By pursuing both what she enjoys and excels at, Mary has found fulfillment and success.

After you determine where you are and where you want to be, the next step in managing a career transition is perfecting your job search toolkit using Job Search: The Total System. Craft an A+ Résumé brimming with accomplishment statements that speaks to your strengths, passions and career goals. Mary also suggests emphasizing your capacity to adeptly execute the broad range of skills you possess. An A+ Résumé will show potential employers you can obtain results and impact their bottom line, and this wins job offers. Compiling supplementary tools that reinforce the compelling message in your résumé will also increase your confidence and psychological leverage. This will help you score winning interviews and put you head and shoulders over the competition. Keep in mind beating out your competitors is always key, especially in a slow economy.

Networking remains one of the most valuable tools for managing career change and minimizing the amount of time you spend between jobs. However, no matter where you are in your career Mary Banks and Job Search: The Total System affirm that you should always be staying in touch with your contacts and growing your network. Even when you don’t seem to need them, it is critical that you always keep your contacts on reserve because your network is the key to an expedient job search.

When you’re thrown a career curveball or your employment status suddenly changes, remember that you can handle the change by preparing for your future, executing your plans with confidence and a positive attitude. Significant changes will always take you outside your comfort zone, and anxiety is a natural part of charting unfamiliar territory. But remember to accept what you can’t control, celebrate your successes, and know that you have the courage and abilities to be a champion of change.

For more from Mary Banks, listen to the entire show or visit: www.wowconsultinggroup.com.

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