Are you ready for your Next Level?

The end of the year is a very valueable time. It’s the time when many purpose driven people sit back to take stock and plan for the coming year. Like all times, time passes when we refuse to assign it to a purpose. The time we have is the one that we assign, aging does not require activity, growing does.

There are some concepts in change management theory that applies to everybody, individuals and corporations alike, by asking yourself a few critical questions, you would be able to identify where you are, and how to plan for the immediate future you desire. You have a next level, in your relationship, career, financial status, social status, e.t.c. When you are ready for your next level, a process begins to evolve, if you are concious of this process, you are better at managing yourself into your next level. Are you ready for your next level?

First of all, what necessitates change, why change? There is a change formular I have come to love.

Change = f (AxBxC or MxVxP) > Cost

Where:

A (M) is dissatisfaction with the status quo  (motivation)
B (V) is a concept of the ideal (vision)
C (P) is a logical first step (process)

Cost is the cost of the change to the person(s) who have the power to
1) authorize the change, and
2) make the change happen
In case you are not very mathematical, what this equation simply states is that, change happens when you are motivated (usually by dissatisfaction with current happenings), have a compelling vision of what you want your future to be, are willing to take the first step, and all these put together weigh more for you than the cost of embarking on the change.

In order to change, the picture of the future must be compelling. You must also be sufficiently motivated. You need to understand your logical next step and finally you need to be willing to pay the price of change.

In my own personal experience, one of the major cost of change for me, is a change in relationships. I don’t throw away my old friends, but somehow I gravitate towards people who are comfortable with the future that I see. I also see a greater need to flood my mind with information about my desired future. For change to take place, the lure from the future must surpass the hold from the present.

Transitions could be turbulent if started unconciously. Change requires ending, and starting. Old habits die hard, hence change could be difficult. In order to make your journey and experience as painless as possible, you can use this checklist to manage your personal transition, your relationship, career, or even departmental or organizational transition. You are not fully ready for your next level, until you have answered all the questions in this checklist. Remember, growth requires concious activity.

ENDING
•    Have you decided what, for you, is over, and what isn’t?
•    What is it time for you to let go of, and what can you hold on to?
•    What symbolic actions have you used to mark your clean break with the past?
•    Have you sorted your losses into those that:
you can retain?
you better try to replace?
you can rebuild?
you must relinquish?
•    Have you proactively sought all information you need to deal effectively with your changes? (Where do you stand?)
•    Have you found symbolic pieces of the past to take along with you into the future?
•    Have you identified the continuity in your life and taken pains to strengthen them?
•    Have you accepted the need to go through mourning?
•    Have you taken the opportunity to step back and look at the “message” in this change?

NEUTRAL ZONE
•    To recover a sense of control
Have you established short range goals and checkpoints?
Are you avoiding undertaking necessary responsibilities?
•    To build a new level of understanding
Have you learned all you can about the transition process?
Have you sought out others who share your situation?
Have you fully leveraged resources available to you?
•    To build support
Have you joined others in planning group events and experiences?
Have you created temporary arrangements to get you through the wilderness?
•    To create purpose
Have you revisited your personal mission and vision?
Have you taken some time alone?
Have you brainstormed and experimented with different possibilities?

BEGINNING
•    Have you converted your personal vision into specific objectives and a game plan for getting there?
•    Have you studied your “route” and determined the new skills and knowledge you will need to acquire?
•    Have you found some low risk settings in which to practice what you are learning?
•    Have you regularly reviewed your progress and made “course corrections” as necessary?
•    Have you celebrated your personal success?