Embrace change as part of life in Air Force

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Jay Hoth
  • 71st Mission Support Group
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  To many, change is a terrifying thought. Why is that?
Many people fear the unknown. They don't normally resist the change being proposed; rather, they resist being changed.
The process and psychology of change have been studied for decades. You can find this evidence in numerous books, research papers and Web sites. Just do an Internet search on change and you'll get hundreds, if not thousands of results. Each one will have its own technique or spin on how to best manage change, and the site's owner is more than happy to help you through or initiate your change ... for a small fee.
So what's the best way to deal with change? Simply accept it and move on with the task at hand. Being disgruntled about things will only make you and those who work around you miserable.
As the new 71st Mission Support Group first sergeant, I'm trying to overcome the unknown and learn what I don't know about the 71st MSG. Was I terrified about the change? No, because I already had an idea about what was going on, just not all the details. Was I apprehensive? Yes, because as humans we are inherently resistant to change. How have I handled it? By just jumping in and getting to work ... not to mention the timely opportunity to write this article.
Many times, the best way to bring about or stimulate change is to get "buy-in" from those affected by the change. How you package and sell the process and associated benefits will determine the amount of resistance the changed individuals will put up. If it's seen as a win-win situation, they will be all for it. If it's seen as a change for the sake of change ... then probably not. Make sure to highlight both potentially positive and negative aspects to the change process. Be prepared to identify obstacles and be proactive in overcoming them before they turn into roadblocks.
Often times when a new leader comes into an organization, they bring with them their way of doing things from their last organization. Sometimes for the better ... sometimes to the dismay of the new organization.
Being new to the MSG, I won't be making immediate changes to the processes I'm responsible for. I'll take some time to see if what is currently in place works for our group and assess if there are any areas to improve. I welcome any and all suggestions you may already have for improvements.
Change is an everyday occurrence in today's Air Force. From sweeping changes in budget and personnel numbers, to new missions and uniforms, change is happening in every facet of our service. Now with the Air Force Smart Operations 21 initiative, even the terminology we are using to bring about change is changing.
When it comes to change in the Air Force, what is the most common thing coming from the population? Resistance. I ask each one of you to do your best to not be resistant to change, because if you stay in the Air Force long enough, everything will come full circle. The changes made yesterday you didn't like, will be replaced by something new tomorrow, and the cycle is perpetual.