5 signs to know you're ready to move to Change

When I went for my first Change Management role, at the end of the second interview I was pretty confident that the hiring manager was going to be making me an offer. 

What I wasn't confident in was my readiness to move to Change!

I said to her: "Are you sure you want to hire me? I have no Change experience..."

She said: "You have been doing Change, you just haven't been calling it that!"

I trusted her belief in me, and thank goodness I did!

I discovered a career and a calling that I'm incredibly passionate about, that I've become a thought leader in, and that I shout from the rooftops. 

Because sooooo many of my clients and students don't know if they're ready to move to Change.

So how did I know?

How was I so committed and so determined?

How did I believe it was possible?

Well, I've changed careers several times... from Advertising to Marketing, from Marketing to Change, and now from Change to Consulting (in Change, of course!). And there are some key signs that show you're ready to make a move:

#1 - You are bored

If you've been working within a team in what we call a Business As Usual (BAU) role and you are bored bored bored, you need more variety in your work and life. Projects are an awesome option because they are short, sharp pieces of work, and even big multi-year programs usually have delivery milestones along the way. I love the variety, growth and challenge in Change - bring it on!

#2 - You want more money

Change pays well. Really well. Like, really well. Working in Change, I tripled my salary in the space of 3 years and now live in a beautiful Sydney CBD apartment with ALL the bells and whistles. I have a cleaner, work flexible hours, take trips and holidays, and had enough cash to comfortably pivot to my business full-time. If I'd stayed working in Marketing, I'd probably have increased my salary by MAYBE double if I was lucky. If you want more cash, fish where the fish are. Maybe that's Change, maybe that's something else, but there's no point slogging it in a profession where pays are capped.

#3 - You love people

Haha so when I sat down for a coffee with the first Change Manager I ever met (she worked in my company), she asked me why I wanted to move to Change. I said I wanted shorter timeframes, more variety, and more challenge, and I loved planning and process and etc etc etc.

She looked at me, and was like: "You haven't said the one thing that Change Management is really focused on: people."

And I said: "Ohhhh I love people too! I've just become a coach and I love working with people and collaborating and helping teams!"

I've never forgotten that because she was ABSOLUTELY right... 

Change is ALLLLLL about people. So if you love working with and for people (but you also like to achieve and get great results and make things happen, dammit!), Change is perfect for you. It's not as people-focused as HR, and it's not as delivery-focused as Project Management. But darn, is it magic!

#4 - You love a good plan

There's a common perception that all we Change Managers do is go around having coffee with people (Exhibit A: example above). We do. We really do. But the coffees lead somewhere, I swear! 

You see, we're building relationships and connections and networks and support so that we can align stakeholder expectations and bring everyone together in a coherent approach. This is where the magic happens and if you're an organiser and planner like me, as well as being a people person, there is nothing more satisfying than collaborating towards a common goal with a well-thought out Change Plan.

#5 - You want more creativity

Change isn't just spreadsheets and Powerpoint slides. Often you'll need to tap into your creativity to solve problems, handle risks, influence stakeholders and deliver beautiful and powerful communication and training materials. I studied Media Comms, I worked in Advertising and Marketing, and THEN I moved to Change and I love being able to use all my creative skills in my corporate work. You can create change themes and narratives, branding, icons, diagrams, charts and more. As well as pretty slide packs (we're not savages :D !).

So if you have ticked any of these 5 signs, Change is probably a good next step for you.

But the mistake a lot of people make is they think - later, that's when I'll start the process.

What they forget is the integration process.

They forget that internal belief and confidence to do something major like a career change doesn't happen overnight.

Sure, I got the job offer overnight. 

But I had been thinking about making the move to Change for at least 4 months.

The EARLIER you start the better. 

I promise!!!

I wish I'd had something that could fast track it for me. 

I wish I'd had tools and resources to have been more confident for that interview. 

I wish I'd learned how to lead end-to-end change, instead of cobbling it together on the job. 

And if you are already working in Change and feeling any of these signs, you probably need a step up and that can take just as much courage and capability.

If you haven't watched the 3 lessons of my free Change Tools Masterclass yet, definitely do so ASAP because they won't be available for very long (and you'll find out more about my March group cohort of my advanced program - Leading Successful Change!):

Click here if you still need to register for the masterclass

This might just be the sign you were looking for!!

Lata xx