If you're a time based billing professional like an architect, land surveyor, cost estimator or consulting engineer you have nothing to fear in changing your time and cost software.
Why does the prospect of change make us feel paralysed? It can cause anxiety and sweaty palms. What triggers these feelings, what is the root of this fear, and how can we tackle it?
I speak with individuals who have outgrown their current systems and discovered excellent alternatives that fit within their budget, yet they never make the switch. Why? Fear of change. It’s a powerful and genuine fear for many of us.
We’re petrified that something might go awry during the transition, potentially crippling our business. We fear ending up with the worst of both worlds: an outdated system that no longer works and a new one that we need to learn.
Business change occurs in four stages: anticipation, regression, breakthrough, and consolidation.
Anticipation is the exciting stage of change where we anticipate the benefits and make our transformational plans.
Regression is when things get harder before they get better.
Breakthrough is when we finally see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel.
Consolidation is when we turn the benefits of change into business as usual.
It’s not the change itself that people dread. The real fear is rooted in the regression phase, and we worry that this backward step might become permanent. We must remind ourselves that taking one step back before moving two steps forward is a crucial part of achieving positive change.
With preparation, contingency planning, buy-in, testing and metrics, you’ll find that bringing about change is far easier than you thought.
Your life doesn’t get better by chance. It gets better by change. So go ahead, seize that change with both hands, embrace the power, overcome your fear, and take a positive step forward!