by Wendy Farrand

Created on: June 12, 2008

"I Never Knew There Was a Different Way"

People view change as if the grim reaper were knocking on the door. They dig their heels in, grab on to nearest thing in sight and try to kick change right in the face. Just like when your time is up, no matter how much you kick, cling and fight, change will happen whether you go with it or not.

As a training consultant, it was my job to assess the needs of an individual, the team or the company and promptly guide them in the direction they needed to go. Out of all the corporate war stories and struggles, one example always stands out as a great lesson in change. It will happen, whether you are a logging company dealing with the changes in the industry, or an individual dealing with change within your own position, time is all you have between you and the grim reaper.

A very successful sales manager was referred for human relations training. He was a top producer, but alas, no one on his team liked him. The owners were very clear that the happiness of the entire team was more important to them than money, and this successful sales manager's days were numbered if there wasn't a drastic improvement in the way he worked with his team.

He arrived at the first session, sat down, slouched back, dug his heals in and his body language said, go ahead, and just try to change me. It was evident, even though I didn't know him that he had a military background. I remember thinking that this guy is going to be a challenge for the instructor.

I was never a part of that class so the next time I saw him was at graduation. His speech that he gave to a packed room of employees, managers, family and friends was one that not only blew me away, but there really wasn't a dry eye to be seen.
He shared with his audience how he was forced into this class and came in kicking and screaming. He was going to show management that they could make him go, but they couldn't make him change. He would show them and he did, all the way up until the day he got fired. That was when he decided that he had nothing but that human relations course in his life, so he was going to give it his all.

In a heartfelt tone this stately Marine shared how he was brought up in a military family, where orders were barked out to the kids as if they were in the midst of battle. He naturally followed in his father's footsteps, joined the Armed Forces, and soon was barking out commands to his own set of enlisted men. When you are saving lives there isn't any time to check for understanding,

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>