Change Is Coming — Are You Adapting or Just Complaining?

Let’s be honest — nobody loves change. Whether it’s a new boss, a policy overhaul, or your office moving to hot-desking (RIP personal cubicles), change can feel frustrating, overwhelming, and downright exhausting.

But here’s the truth: Resisting change doesn’t stop it. The only thing you can control is how you respond. And in government and public service, change is inevitable. New leadership, new regulations, new technologies — if you’re waiting for things to “settle down,” you’ll be waiting forever.

So, let’s talk about how to stop fearing change and start making it work for you.

Change at Work: The Good, The Bad & The “Do We Really Need This?”

• The Good — Change can bring new technology that makes your job easier, opportunities for career growth, and yes — sometimes leadership actually gets it right! Hybrid work? A flexible schedule? A better way to process requests? Not all change is bad.
• The Bad — More training, more meetings, more “we value your feedback” emails (but do they really? 🤔). Change can feel messy, slow, and frustrating — especially if it’s not well communicated.
•  The “Do We Really Need This?” — That new software nobody asked for, the office redesign that removed all the comfy chairs, and the ever-changing org charts that make it impossible to know who you report to this week.

The key is figuring out how to make change work for you, rather than feeling like it’s something happening to you.

Food for Thought:

• What’s one recent change at work that actually helped you? (There’s gotta be one!)
• How do you respond when things shift — do you resist, adapt, or lead the way?

How to Survive (and Maybe Even Thrive) During Workplace Change

1️. Ask Questions — The more you understand the why behind a change, the easier it is to adapt. If leadership isn’t communicating clearly, ask for clarity. (And if they are, read the emails — seriously.)

2️. Find the Opportunity — Does this change open doors for new skills, new projects, or better work-life balance? Even if the change itself isn’t thrilling, can it help you gain an edge in your career?

3️. Control What You Can — You may not be able to stop a policy change, but you can control how you react. Adapting, influencing, and improving beats complaining at the coffee machine any day.

4️. Be a Leader — Even if you’re not in charge, you can set the tone for your team. If you handle change well, others will follow. (Bonus: This makes you look like a great candidate for that next promotion.)

A Challenge for You:

• The next time you hear about a change at work, don’t roll your eyes — ask yourself, “How can I make this work for me?” The answer might surprise you.

Change is hard — but so is being stuck. Which would you rather choose?

Dr. Rhonda Farrell is a transformation advisor with decades of experience driving impactful change and strategic growth for DoD, IC, Joint, and commercial agencies and organizations. She has a robust background in digital transformation, organizational development, and process improvement, offering a unique perspective that combines technical expertise with a deep understanding of business dynamics. As a strategy and innovation leader, she aligns with CIO, CTO, CDO, CISO, and Chief of Staff initiatives to identify strategic gaps, realign missions, and re-engineer organizations. Based in Baltimore and a proud US Marine Corps veteran, she brings a disciplined, resilient, and mission-focused approach to her work, enabling organizations to pivot and innovate successfully.

Photo by Markus Winkler