Wondering about what you can do to most effectively manage changes that sometimes take small business owners by surprise? American Small Business News readers can benefit from the tips shared by internationally recognized change expert M.J. Ryan in this exclusive expert interview. As a member of Professional Thinking Partners, Ryan specializes in coaching individuals and teams around the world. She is one of the creators of the New York Times bestselling Random Acts of Kindness series and the author of The Happiness Makeover, Trusting Yourself, Attitudes of Gratitude, AdaptAbility: How to Survive Change You Didn’t Ask For, and a number of other titles.

Q: How important is it for small business owners to expect the unexpected?

Ryan: Developing the ability to anticipate and respond quickly to change is the crucial business skill entrepreneurs need. Not only will it keep you afloat because you have increased options, but it is THE competitive advantage small has over large. We can turn on a dime, where large corporations lose time trying to turn their battleship.

What tips do you have for small business owners who are coping to deal with the uncertain economic environment?

Focus on the solution, not the problem. Because society rewards analytic thinking, we believe that identifying the cause is the answer: Why is this happening. That’s a starting point, but don’t spend too much time there. What are you going to do about where you are?

Because feeling in control is so crucial to resilience and economic challenges can leave us feeling very out of control, try asking yourself this question during the day: What am I free to choose right now?

Seek out really good advice–this is no time to be a lone ranger!

Q. What advice do you have for entrepreneurs whose natural tendencies lean toward avoiding change whenever possible?

Ryan: If innovative thinking is not your default setting, seek out allies who have it and really listen to and take their advice. Those of us who prefer stability are at a disadvantage right now. We must team with forward thinkers.

Think like a Native American. The Native Americans say that if you can’t think of seven options, your thinking is incomplete. I’m not sure there’s something magical about the number except that it allows you to generate a lot of possibilities. It’s ok if they are not all realistic, this is a brainstorming technique. What are seven new ways you can respond to what is happening?

Q: What can entrepreneurs do to keep from falling into negative patterns when faced with change?

Ryan: Don’t take it personally! What’s happening are large economic forces that have nothing to do with you or your value. When we depersonalize, we can engage more of our capacity to think because we avoid all the feelings of blame and shame that can hang us up.

Celebrate success along the way, no matter how small: a new connection, a possible lead, a small savings. Give yourself credit for moving forward in a difficult situation. At the end of the day, look at what you’ve done and celebrate whatever accomplishment you can. Celebration creates positive energy and forward momentum.

When considering options, before you say something won’t work, consider how it might work. Try it on for a while.

If you find yourself worrying all the time, set aside a 15 minute worry time, say 5pm every day. Then when your mind starts worrying at other times, tell yourself it’s not worry time and distract yourself—read a report, write an email, something that occupies your mind.