I am going through two major transitions in my personal life right now - (1) getting married in October 2010, and (2) selling and buying a new home.

Both are amazing changes that will have a significant and profound impact on who I am as a person. And as I reflect on these changes, I am constantly reminded that change itself is inevitable in this life, but how we handle it is a choice.

I believe this concept applies to all of us - as individuals, management teams, or even organizations as a whole. Here are a few ideas that can help you and others ride through the roller coaster of change.

1. Reflect on how you have coped positively and benefited from changes in your past. Apply those lessons to the changes you are currently navigating.
2. Change is often the catalyst for doing something new, creating something different, and moving in an alternate direction. Use that momentum instead of resisting it. Actions always create reactions. So take action now.
3. Figure out what your specific goals are for the change. Create a vision around those goals. Get people aligned with those goals. Ask those who you lead for input on how to best deal with challenges.
4. Identify your support system and create a structure for you, your management team, and the organization as a whole to stay on track. It's always easier to navigate change with the help of others.
5. Share what you know, and share what you don't know.

The People-first bottom line: How you (your management team, your organization) respond to change is a choice, and that choice is a reflection of who you are.