Watching out for "WhiteWater"

People who tend to survive catastrophes accept what’s happening quicker than others and therefore take action faster, according to author Amanda Ripley in “The Unthinkable.” The same is true for 'next career' success. The race goes to those who can calmly say, “OK, what’s next?”

Change is inevitable. Organizational consultant Peter Vail calls the world’s increasing interdependence and complexity “permanent whitewater.”

He identifies this term with a time of ongoing uncertainty and turbulence. Experienced rafters know they’re going to get dumped out at some point. The difference between them and the rest of us is that they’re prepared to get bounced out and recover. They expect the whitewater. And so should you. You’ll save precious energy for coping and learning so you can keep your head above water.

When we resist change, we put ourselves through the emotional wringer.

Here are a few examples on how to avoid these obstacles yourself:

Blame

Don't look for it. It ain't there. Don't get stuck doing what people do when they resist change: searching for blame. This is a waste of time.

Denial

We want to keep doing what we have always done, regardless of whether it is working or not or whether there are better, faster solutions.

None of us, whatever our age, whatever our work, can afford that attitude anymore. The name of the game is relevancy, and the life cycle of relevancy is short. Accept that reality and get moving.

Inertia

To be successful, we must get out of our inert safe zone and into the stretch zone.
Simple. Do something now that moves you out of traditionalism.

Don't become historically irrelevant. Playing it 'safe' is not today's game. Now, get out there and play it.