Be a Navigator of Change in Your Life - A Proven Process to Win Through Change

By Michael J Griffin

5 minute read

I am “certain of uncertainty” in your life and mine. Uncertainty births changes in our life – some pleasant surprises, some difficult crises. How we deal with changes in our lives will ultimately determine our success in life.

Let’s do two things in this blog: first reflect on quotations of uncertainty and change, and, then review the very practical action steps you can take to positively deal with change in your life. First reflect on these quotations.

“Uncertainty is the only certainty there is, and knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security.” – John Allen Paulos

“Maturity is the capacity to endure uncertainty.” – John Huston Finley

“The future is uncertain… but this uncertainty is at the very heart of human creativity.” – Ilya Prigogine

“Uncertainty is the refuge of hope.” – Henri Frederic Amiel

“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change” - Albert Einstein

“The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude” -Oprah Winfrey

“Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.” - John C. Maxwell

“I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” - Jimmy Dean

So how might we “adjust our sails” to positively change in the uncertainty of life? There are action steps that you can follow to proactively adjust and win through change, but it first starts with your attitude and reaction to change. You and I can have four attitudes to change according to Peter Block in his book “Stewardship.” They are:

The Victim – This person is “Poor me.” They resist the change, thinking the worst. They may become depressed, isolate and not ask for help. Giving up is their emotion.

The Critic – This person questions and challenges if the change is really necessary. They look for reasons not to change and may actively work against the change. Anger is their emotion.

The Bystander – This person is a afraid to proactively take action to change. He/she may wait for others to change first. Fear is their emotion.

The Navigator – This person looks for ways to minimize the negative, and, proactively promote the positive effects of the change. They strive for sustaining healthy relationships through the change. Their attitude is healthy and they are practical optimists.

We must be certain to always check our attitudes to the changes that affect us. For example: What was your attitude and how did it change as you moved through two years of Covid? How did you “adjust your sails” to cope or proactively grow and win through Covid?

When I worked at AchieveGlobal we had a workshop module called “Personal Strategies for Navigating Change.” The four key actions found in this self-leadership module were very helpful for me to positively navigate changes in my life, career, and relationships. Here are the four actions to navigate change:

Acknowledge your own attitude and reactions.

We like to think that change is something other people have trouble accepting. However, to varying degrees, almost all of us initially fear or at least question change. Before you can deal objectively with any change, you first need to understand and accept your own attitude and reactions to it. Victim, critic, bystander, or navigator?

Assess the impact of the change.

Making an objective and thorough assessment of the impact will help you separate potential problems from “resistance to change” issues. You’ll maximize your ability to adapt successfully and minimize emotional distress. Review the pluses and minuses of the change.

Seek and acknowledge others’ reactions and seek mature advice.

By encouraging others to express their fears, concerns, and needs, you can help them resolve their feelings and return to the task at hand. The strategy of also seeking mature, experienced advice and counsel on the change, effects, and path forward is very helpful.

Take positive action individually and with others – Be a Navigator.

Don’t expect to be able to take on everything at once. Instead, take

charge of what you can do in your control and encourage others to do the same. Keep a positive vision, and sustain healthy relationships and open communication.

ELAvate has created simple Navigating Change Application Sheets for you to employ to assess your attitude to a change and to draft out your action plan to positively move through the change and make it a “win” in your life. Download the applications sheet here.  

I am certain that uncertainty leads to change in my life and yours. Remember to employ our applications sheet to “adjust the sails” in your life for less stress, less headache and more positive outcomes to changes in your life.  

Keep growing through uncertainty. Lead others through change. Give hope and vision.

Michael J Griffin
ELAvate CEO and Founder
Maxwell Leadership Founding Member
Navigator of Change