Adapting to Change in the Workplace - Bethany Livermore

(3 min read)

Hey everyone! I’m Bethany and I’m halfway through my Level 3 Digital Marketing Apprenticeship at Mindshare. I have recently just moved to a different team and a new account within my marketing agency. I hope this blog will help anyone who is moving to a new team or those of you who are on a rotational apprenticeship!

What does ‘change’ define as in the workplace?

Change is inevitable, it can take time and patience to get used to but you may even find that new and exciting opportunities may show up when you learn to accept and embrace change. Change can be challenging for everyone, especially for apprentices but I'm going to share some of my best tips that helped me better navigate change in the workplace and adapt with ease.

Stay Positive - Regardless of what team or account you are working with next, a positive mindset is an absolute essential! This can be hard, to begin with, but if you work on it, you will start to love your job. Maintaining the ability to view a potential change with a positive attitude is integral to your ability to adjust fast. 

Things to do to stay positive:
●    Build relationships with colleagues 
●    Participate in work events/socials
●    Concentrate on 1 task at a time
●    Don’t beat yourself up over mistakes - You will learn from them!
●    Reward yourself for your accomplishments 
●    Surround yourself with positive people

Focus on what you can control - My coach said this to me once and has completely changed my mindset since! I can imagine that everyone in their life has been told once to ‘not worry’ or ‘calm down,’ and this often stems from being stressed, worried, or overwhelmed. However, if you try and establish ‘what you can control,’ and ‘what you have no control over,’ you will start to realise that you are worrying for no reason. The more you focus on things that are outside of your control, the more likely you are going to feel anxious or distressed. Alternatively, when you start to focus on what you can control, you will start to feel good, confident, happy, and have a sense of accomplishment. It is all about changing your mindset and practising mindfulness. 

Mindfulness apps and podcasts to try:
●    Headspace App
●    Calm App
●    Smiling Mind App
●    There are a range of podcasts listed on Spotify

Communicate your concerns with your new team/line manager - It is important to address any concerns you have when you first start with your new team, this will give your manager a clear indication of what you are currently struggling with or what you may need extra support with. Communication is a skill that is essential to your success in both personal and professional settings. Just informing your manager or team about your worries will make you feel reassured and they will be able to give you helpful information about workplace changes to help you adapt better!

How to communicate with your new team?
●    Ask to book a quick meeting before you start your new role
●    Meet them in person and discuss your concerns
●    Set up regular catch-up meetings

Ask questions frequently - There is no such thing as a silly question! When you move to a new team, you will incorporate new changes into your daily routine and you will need to ask as many questions as possible to better understand the new procedures and activities. Asking questions can often be hard when you move to a new team, but it can help you become a better leader in the workplace. It will help you uncover the challenges that you are currently facing and generate better solutions to solve those problems, it also shows that you are eager to learn more!

Tips for asking good questions:
●    Be engaged - Demonstrate that you are interested and that you want to learn more
●    Ask open-ended questions - Try to avoid yes/no questions, more complex questions will lead you to gather more information that will help you

If you have any questions you’d like to ask, I am more than happy to answer them from my own experience. You can either contact me via the Multiverse Community Hub or use my Linkedln. Wish you the best when you move to your new team :)

If you'd like to write an article to be posted on the Multiverse Community, please fill out this form and a member of the team will be in touch.