In her book Changing on the Job, Jennifer Garvey Berger explores how we can improve our capacity to change, both professionally and personally. She argues that learning to manage the triggers that create disruption and adapting quickly to new challenges are essential skills for success in today’s world.
Garvey Berger explains that while much emphasis is placed on changing one’s behaviors, these efforts often prove fruitless. Once we recognize the triggers that initiate change—situations, emotions, messages and ideas—we are in a much better position to develop the skills that enable us to better cope and adapt to change. With these insights, we can begin to proactively manage change and effectively cope with it.
The author provides tips and techniques to help readers learn to manage their emotions, think and approach challenges in a strategic manner, and become more agile in responding to change. She also explains the importance of self-awareness and how understanding our strengths and weaknesses can help us become better able to respond to change.
Garvey Berger also outlines how to create an environment for change: by recognizing that disruptive times require new models of leadership and organizing and by understanding the importance of building strong teams and instilling trust. Finally, she argues that learning to embrace change and stay ahead of the curve is essential to success.
As with any book, the secret to gaining lasting value lies in its implementation. With this in mind, Garvey Berger includes a chapter of tools, resources, and exercises to help readers embed the ideas from the book and make them their own.
In Changing on the Job, Garvey Berger transcends the conventional wisdom on organizational change and provides readers with insights and strategies that are not only helpful for managing disruption but also for leading with aptitude. For those looking to better understand and manage their own capacity for change, or for those seeking to create an agile business for the unpredictable 21st Century, this book is a must-read.
