Industry change reveals not just different talents but varying levels of ambition, too.
Over time, many if not all employees eventually become comfortable in their work environment. I don’t think this can be helped, because with routine comes contentment. This can cut both ways — many workers may then find it stressful when the job requirements change, while others find change exciting and challenging. Long-time employees will adjust to change, but many are not anxious to embrace it and may unintentionally slow up the change process. At the same time, employers struggle with change and yet they must keep pace with current thinking, strategic planning, and the competition. A good analogy of this ability of company change is McDonald’s restaurants.
Now I don’t eat at McDonald’s, but I do remember when they first arrived on the scene in New England with their golden arches back in the 1960s. Over the years, all McDonald’s buildings have evolved to keep pace with the expectations and demands of their customers (e.g., restaurant seating area, drive-thru, etc.). In recent years, it has been the menu that has had to change to continue to bring customers into McDonald’s. The HVAC building industry is no different. Just think of who the HVAC consulting engineering firms were when you got into this business, as well as who the most successful firms were at that time. Today, look around and see if those successful firms are still number one, two, three, etc. They probably aren’t ranked the same this year as they were back when you started. In fact, some of these companies have disappeared from the HVAC industry. So overcoming status quo with change is good, as well as essential, if employees and companies are to survive and grow in value.