Are you ready for a change?

May 19, 2014 2 mins read
are-you-ready-for-a-change

There’s a saying in the Section Ⅱof Yi •The Great Appendix, “Poverty spurs change; change spurs adaptation; adaptation spurs attainment.” For managers, “poverty” doesn’t refer to a low salary, but encompasses a wide range of issues including lack of technical job skills, internal restrictions on development, and conflicts with the company’s culture and staff.

On the same note, companies themselves are also faced with times of significant hardship, including shrinking markets and fierce competition in the marketplace. At these times, the variable “change” comes into play. For many managers, corporate change can be like an anonymous gift, both surprising and wonderful.

For many traditional companies, the theme of 2014 is “change”:

1. Corporate culture. Each individual employee helps form the company’s culture. Candidates who are different from the prevailing style but with excellent communication skills have begun to gain attention during the hiring process. Regardless of whether it’s at a hiring company or amongst candidates themselves, how to accurately manage employee diversity without ruining cultural unity at the company is a necessary consideration. Are you ready to join different companies with various cultures?

2. Organisational structure. Making adjustments to organisational structure during a company’s development stage isn’t a new idea. With these adjustments come changes to duties and lines of reporting, especially for the sales team where product lines may be merged and the management team may be reduced. Are you ready to face new duties or a new boss?

3. Market strategy. Movements in the market are fluid, and changes in the corporate management levels always lead to adjustments in the company’s market strategy. In the traditional manufacturing industry, the lackluster market environment of the last two years has spurred many companies to try new things. These changes always carry a certain element of risk. Are you ready to make changes to your tried and true methods?

We can choose to adapt to company changes, which can be a somewhat unclear process. We can also choose external opportunities which suit us and allow us to utilize our original strengths. At the end of the day, only by being in a permanent state of readiness for change can we remain on the road to success in the workplace.

Marlon Mai's picture
Marlon Mai
Managing Director, Greater China
mmai@morganmckinley.com