Together Forward: Embracing the Power of Change

​Ten years ago, I worked for a research firm that was looking for new leadership. I anticipated the result of the search with something close to dread. How different would the new CEO be? Why couldn't the old CEO stick around? Will I still have a job? Will my boss? What will our new focus be? Should I still buy that new car?

The transition I dreaded turned out to be meager. The incoming CEO made only a gradual shift in culture and strategy. Quality assurance became our firm's new core value—not exactly a controversial move. There was no setting of new norms, no dramatic introduction of bold purpose, no excitement to motivate the workforce. The firm missed the chance to make a really meaningful change.

Fast-forward 10 years. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is undergoing its own transition with a new president and CEO, Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, at the helm. With the strong foundation laid by now-retired president and CEO Henry G. "Hank" Jackson, SHRM is energized and positioned to take the HR profession to even greater heights. Our new, bold purpose is nothing less than to change the world of work. And two simple words have become our rallying call: Together Forward.

Together, we move forward not only as a professional society but also as a social force. Together, we aim to create better workplaces for a better world. 

SHRM remains devoted to advancing the HR profession and serving HR professionals. But SHRM is so much more. As a social change engine, SHRM can help advance the world of work, to make it as effective and gratifying as possible for millions of employees worldwide. As the go-to professional HR resource, SHRM can have a greater impact on workers, workplaces and communities than ever before, helping all of us move ahead.

The laws of physics dictate that objects in motion tend to stay in motion, and objects at rest tend to stay at rest, unless acted on by a force. This quality of matter is called inertia. In the business world, inertia is better known as resistance to change. Inertia can be the death of an organization in today's fast-moving society, even if the organization is experiencing success. To overcome inertia and move ahead, by any definition, an organization must take advantage of the forces of change when given the chance to do so. SHRM is subject to these principles and is making the most of this moment. 

We have all experienced feelings of uncertainty when our organization undergoes significant change. We have all watched anxiously during a major reorganization or a search for a new CEO. The expected transition becomes the subtext for everything you do. Entry-level employees as well as experienced managers lose time standing around the coffee maker, thinking and speculating about what might happen.

Now an executive who reports directly to the new CEO, I am witnessing the changes rather than participating in the speculation. I see the different ways in which the people around me are affected and how they respond. I also see the difference it makes when an organization fully embraces the power of change.

There is one immutable law of organizations: Change is inevitable. If you seize the opportunity, it can also be desirable. 

I ask each of you to join SHRM as we go "Together Forward." The forces of change are moving us to live up to our potential as never before. With your support, SHRM and the HR profession can create monumental impact in our workplaces and, more importantly, the world. 

Alexander Alonso, Ph.D., SHRM-SCP, is SHRM's chief knowledge officer. 

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