We often feel that change is dictated by forces well beyond our control. And in many cases, particularly in the business world, that certainly is true.

But we all have some form of control when it comes to change, although many people overlook this fact:

Let's face it: We have the ability to decide how we're going to react to change. 

• We can be "reactive" to it, making whatever changes are needed in the mindset of "have to" do it. 

OR

• We can be "proactive" to the change by developing a better response to change, one that will make it a positive in either our professional or personal lives. 

Technology provides a classic example for change reaction. The computer age has thrown a tremendous amount of challenges in terms of learning and using high-tech hardware, software and communications tools. 

Now let's look at how people generally have responded to technological change. The "reactive" types accepted computers and related applications -- some grudgingly -- and learned as much as they needed for their jobs. The "proactive" types, on the other hand, embraced new technologies as a means to be faster and quicker in their jobs, often enhancing their status within organizations.

The key to becoming a "proactive" responder to change lies in your ability to understand the drivers behind the changes and defining the opportunities and the challenges you face because of them. 

From there, you can begin to set your own business plan in terms of what you truly want to achieve and what you're willing to give up to reach that objective.

In short, you have to learn to negotiate your way through changes. There are many, many secrets to negotiation success that you can learn to help you turn the change process into a positive one.