Change is something that that people may embrace and welcome. However, they may also fear change and be reluctant to accept it. Social media is notorious for changing quickly. It seems that as soon as we are accustomed to working within a specific social media environment, the system is tweaked–sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse, and sometimes back to the previous environment as public uproar may demand reversal of an earlier change.

We are the recipients of change in those environments that we do not own or are not in a position of being responsible for authorizing changes. Therefore, we are simply the recipients of the implemented changes and have the choice of accepting change, fighting it, or avoiding it through other actions. On occasion, changes make it more difficult or complicated for us to conduct business.

 Usually, changes are implemented with good intentions. However, social media is just another business, and changes may be “beta- tested,” but rarely are changes designed or determined from the user-up. Commercial entities still believe that they have a handle on what is best for their consumers rather than have their consumers determine how best the entity can serve them. We have constant reminders of this management thinking, from revised soft-drink formulas that are later recalled to hardware with reception flaws, to safety issues with children’s toys to automobiles to internet privacy. VRM (Vendor Relationship Management) is not the norm. With over five years since its formal introduction, it deserves to be widespread.

Until its adaption, we need to learn to step back and work with changes that are thrust upon us. As most difficult events in life, change demands patience, adaption, and respect. We should take each change as a simple and normal evolutionary process on the road to improvement of whatever is being changed. We must take these steps if we are to adapt to change with the least amount of difficulty and most pleasure.

  • Recognize that change is inevitable
  • Expect change
  • Identify the change
  • Accept the fact that change has occurred
  • Bring your flexible, adaptable, and patient traits to the forefront and know your power
  • Determine how the change affects or does not affect you
  • Determine if action is needed on your part to achieve a desired result
  • Evaluate how the action you take (even if the action is no action) will impact you
  • Take the appropriate action
  • Confirm that your action has brought you the results that you want
  • Notify the vendor if you would like to see additional changes or modification of what was changed
  • Live with the change if you continue to use the vendor
  • Enjoy your success at your adoption of the change

You will soon learn that you will view change as a challenging friend. You will become a master at adaptation as well as become more active in providing feedback.

 What is your buzz about?