Change is Good

One of things Wall Streeters seem to fear the most is change. New organizational structures, new bosses, new underlings. Well. . . I suppose the underlings usually don't scare people. All things considered though, these things should be seen as opportunities. Of course, constant organizational changes are just disruptive, but the occaisional shake-up can definitely be something to take advantage of.

New bosses give the opportunity for advancement. Having a new manager puts everyone on the same footing again. If you weren't in the limelight before, now you can be. If you were the boss's right-hand guy before, you get to show you were there because you're that good, not because you were his buddy. It's usually more the latter that find these situations fearful. I have found that the guy who can steadily be the number 2 guy though several organizational changes usually gets the next promotion. He's proven that he is the best guy for the job through several regimes. The changes just give an extra early opportunity to prove it.

Sometimes the fear comes because the company is cutting back. Well, that fear may be justified. There are times when good producers are let go for poor or unrelated reasons. You may feel you were unfairly let go or a friend was unfairly let go. If you were unfairly let go, well. . . can't do much there other than look for your next career move. If your friend was let go, you still need to view it as an opportunity for advancement. If you think it was truly unfair, you vote with your feet. Leave institutions that practice unfair human capital mangement and join institutions that treat talent as it should be treated.