Can people change?

Can people change? This topic can be quite controversial. Governments certainly don’t think people change, but parole boards might. Parents usually think their own children can change, but that other parents’ children cannot. Employers think job seekers won’t change, which is why they rarely consider candidates who have a history of jumping jobs. We generally assume extended family can’t change, but maybe friends can? What about environments; they can change so why can’t people change along with that? I know most women change when they have children, but everyone says women can’t change men.

Change needs to be constant, especially at work. Technology is changing at the speed of light and every job now, or soon, will have an element of technology in it. If we think about the use of the internet over the past 15 years, and the use of cell phones, cars, and even environmental technology, the change has been astronomical. People are lost without being connected 24/7. We have all learned to manage the change in technology, but we may not like to change ourselves. At least most of us understand that change is a necessary part of life!

The staffing industry would not exist if people did not change jobs, quit, get laid off, or take maternity or paternity leaves. Our industry relies on businesses changing, growing, or downsizing. But most people still don't like change of any kind. Bosses dislike having to rehire, retrain, and redevelop employees. Coworkers dislike it when teammates leave and someone new has to come on board.

So, do people change? Should we give someone a second chance to prove they have changed for the better? Should we hire new employees who have a sketchy work history? How many chances should we give people? Should there be a rule, or number, like there are for workplace warnings? Once bitten, twice shy? Try one technology, and if it doesn't work, be leery of the next one. Try one employee, and if that one doesn’t work out, very carefully pick another, or don't, and do the work yourself. Try one date, one relationship, or one friend, and if one does not work out, only try one more, then never again. Accept only one career in a lifetime, because if that one does not work out, there will only be one more opportunity to be the one and only. See how ridiculous this all is? Just because we are afraid of change, or accepting people who are trying to change, or are looking for a change, we are creating this unwinnable argument around change. We should be working on how to embrace change not fight it…unless I change my mind about that.