Change. Such a simple word can disrupt life, but can and should also be the mantra for all professionals as we traverse the new work world.

Change has always been a popular business topic, but for more than 30 years, it referred to slow and steady incremental modifications. With the advent of the pandemic, the word has taken on an entirely new meaning: disruption.

Both seasoned professionals and newly minted graduates recognize that one must change, adapt, adjust, and grow to remain professionally relevant. Life as we knew it has forever changed. Our homes are no longer a haven in which we hunker down for a momentary respite from the demands and pressures of the world; home is now, for many, the hub of not only our personal lives but our professional lives, too. The transition from professional settings to our comfy homes as a workspace lent credence to the management theorists who warned us to be prepared for groundbreaking change.

As was the case with COVID-19, there will be times when disruption occurs, and we must adapt instantaneously, or risk being left in the proverbial dust. It can be downright daunting, but we must use the tools afforded to us by our education and experience to craft an attitude of resiliency and grit. Those who see change as a driver of success will be able to navigate the uncertain landscape of the post-COVID world. Each one of us can be the agent of that change. We must understand it, explore it, and embrace it.

Continue to learn, continue to explore, keep an open mind, and, most importantly, develop that internal locus of control. If you engage in these activities, you will not only be prepared for change, but will have the skills to lead it.