One of the things we discussed last Wednesday is that most of us try to solve all of our problems on our own – we attempt to be islands of strength, either afraid to ask others for help because we think they will not say yes, or thinking that the other person really will not be very helpful anyway.

There is no shame in tapping into your network to achieve success. Chances are either someone you know directly, or someone who knows someone you know has an answer or a way to help you.

If you consider yourself to be a self-made individual and pride yourself on being independent, you may think asking for help is a sign of weakness – in fact asking for help may build better relationships with the people around you.

Step 1: Determine what you need. What are you looking for? Be as specific as possible so the other person will be able to help you. For example: If you are trying to change careers, you might want to get some contacts within that profession or industry.

Step 2: Who can help you? Your network is bigger than you think. You may have met a specific individual along your journey, or it might be someone you have not met but have heard about. Even asking contacts who you do not think will have the answer might yield a connection. “I’m trying to find out more about high tech job opportunities – who should I talk to?” Almost any connection you are looking for is likely only 2 connections from you – someone you know will know the person you need to connect with.

Step 3: Ask the person. You may be surprised to discover that almost anyone you can think of is able to be approached and often will answer a question. Most people will welcome an approach, especially if you respect the fact that they may be busy. “I was wondering if you could help me?” Avoid criticising their suggestions, or saying things like, “I already knew that.” Instead simply say thank you. You will have already made them feel good because most people like to give advice.

Some companies have invited me in to deliver the “Secrets of Success in Uncertain Times” to their staff and customers. If I can be of help, please visit www.LeadershipWizard.com

Here are some ideas on how to deal with uncertainty:

1. A lot of news and even the internal grapevine in your company deals with speculation – what might happen. It’s important to clarify things down to what you know as a fact. It helps cut through the clutter when you focus on the facts as you know them today.

2. Put things in perspective – with all the doom and gloom – remember that some people are less affected by current circumstances – teachers, health care workers, many government workers, retirees, the food industry, the energy industry. So we’re not looking at a total collapse.

3. What’s the worst that can happen? And can you live through it? When you look at what people have to deal with in their lives, there isn’t anything that we are not capable of dealing with. It might not be the best, but the important things remain – love, family.

4. Get away from it – If you can, take some time to go for a walk, enjoy the beauty around you. Get away from the pressure cooker. Avoid negative people and negative news.

5. Stay centered – Many people report that staying spiritually centered helps them deal with the worst that life can throw at them. When I went through difficult times, I spent more time meditating and praying. Find your center and you will feel a sense of calm.

6. Look for the positives and the opportunities – a successful mindset is where you look for opportunities instead of challenges. What you focus on becomes your frame of reference.

7. What are your options? Sometimes we become blinded by thinking we have no options. You can take a course, change careers, open a business, move to a new city, pursue a new passion, retire early – think of all the possibilities and then narrow them down.

Get more information at www.LeadershipWizard.com

After a historic American election with change as its central theme, hysteria and enthusiasm will undoubtedly give way to the sobering reality of how change might negatively impact many people. For executives, managers and supervisors, managing change is an important skill.

Why We Love Change

Marketers know that a significant chunk of the population is interested in the latest and greatest. Novelty is an important way to attract customers. In the same way, change can be personally motivating at work.

As you think back in your career to when you were the most excited, energized and enthused, chances are you were dealing with the challenge of change. Perhaps it was a difficult and complex project, or a new promotion, or a new job and even if it was slightly overwhelming, you got excited about the possibilities.

Unfortunately managers often strip away motivation because they keep assigning the same work to the same people day in and day out. It’s easy for the manager because he or she can be confident the work will be done well. In the medium to long term, the motivation and creativity of employees will be reduced.

On a personal level, there is almost always something positive that comes from change. Even some of the most difficult personal challenges you have faced have brought with them some positives. The end of one relationship may have lead to a new relationship. A job loss may have given you the freedom to go back to school or follow your passion to a new career.

If you are feeling personally stagnant, then take personal responsibility to create change for yourself. Take a course, volunteer in the community or ask for a new assignment.

Why We Hate Change

The reason change is so disruptive is because it involves changing our habits. Most of our daily routines are subconscious. A great example is your drive to work in the morning. You get in your car, drive to work and get out and can’t remember even how you got there. You were on auto-pilot. Contrast that with a road trip to an address in a city you have never visited, which can be filled with frustration and conflict as the driver and passenger bicker about how to get to the destination.

If something changes in your routine at work, your conscious mind has to become more involved with the activity. This can be fatiguing. As time passes, the new will become routine and the subconscious will take over and the stress will diminish.

Constant change can be overwhelming. Even those people who love change will notice some undesirable consequences to their health if they don’t have some stability in their lives. Ideally managers will challenge employees with change and then give them a breather so they can regroup and recharge for the next assignment.

Leadership Tips

- Change things up at work – give people new and challenging assignments.

- Give people a reason why the change is good and encourage them over their fears. Keep reminding them of the benefits.

- Systematize the change so that new habits can be formed more quickly.

- Give employees a break after a significant change so they can catch their breath.

- Help employees reflect back on a previous change that was difficult and yet yielded positive results.