Changes in Routines and Procedures

Change is an inevitable part of life and the workplace.  Things don’t always stay the same.  Things change and that is okay.   Sometimes it can be hard when things change, especially when you are used to doing things a certain way.  But you need to be flexible and make changes as needed so that you can do your job well. At work, procedures and routines need to be changed or modified for various reasons. 

The following are a few reasons why something may change at work:

• The old routine or procedure was outdated. 
  
  
  • For example, a company may get a new computer system to speed up a financial process.
    
    
• The old routine or procedure was not working well. 
  
  
  • For example, a yearly mailing to advertise business was not effective in bringing in new customers.  Therefore, putting together the envelopes is no longer part of your job duties.
    
    
• Sometimes people like and desire a change. 
  
  
  • For example, a restaurant owner may want to change the way the table is set for a new,
    more modern look.
    
    
• Other priorities come up, causing you to change your schedule. 
  
  
  • For example, a customer spilled a plate of food everywhere and you must clean it up before completing your scheduled tasks for the day.
    
    
• There was a cancellation, which changes your schedule. 
  
  
  • For example, a landscaper cannot mow the lawn because it is raining. 

There will likely be changes you will have to make at every job. Change is a part of life and change is OK. If you feel frustrated by change, have a plan for how to relax or calm yourself beforehand.

You should expect that small changes will be made to your schedule or work plan on a daily or weekly basis.  Sometimes, your supervisor or co-workers might not be able to give you any advanced warning that a certain change is happening.  Sometimes, these things are out of their control too. 

Here are some changes that you should expect to happen sometimes:

• You might not be able to do tasks in the same order as you usually do.
• You might not get to do a certain task anymore.
• You might not be able to do a task the same way anymore.
• You might have to work in a different area.
• You might have to work different hours than normal.
• You might have to work near different or new co-workers.

Although changes like these can be frustrating and stressful, there are things you can do to cope with change. 

Here’s what you can do:

Write yourself a reminder that change is OK.  For example, “Sometimes things change and change is OK.”  When you feel frustrated, you should read this note to remind yourself that changes are normal and manageable. In addition, write down some things that help you relax when you are frustrated with change, such as “take 5 deep breaths, count to 10, or take a 2 minute time out.”   If something changes and you feel frustrated or stressed, then take a short break (less than 5 minutes). A short break may help you to calm down, come back to work in a better mood, and be more readily able to deal with the changes.  It is better to take a short break and calm down than lose your cool at work. If changes to your routine are a continual problem for you, talk to your supervisor in a calm manner.  Politely ask your supervisor to give you advance notice about expected changes so that you can prepare for them.  It may also help for your supervisor to inform you of changes in writing, rather than telling you verbally.