When you run into an ethical dilemma on the job, should you stand your ground or give in? Your response helps shape corporate culture.

Let's face it: Change is stressful--and constant. Whether you feel insecure in your job, just got a new boss, or are taking up slack for coworkers who are now "pursuing other opportunities," the way you respond to change and uncertainty may govern your success.

How can you maximize your chances? Take steps to manage the only behavior you truly can: your own. You may find yourself less involved in workplace drama, better able to capitalize on opportunities, and more satisfied with life.

Advancing technology and economic reality guarantee change. Ignoring the news, avoiding your boss, and disregarding your intuition set the stage for disaster. Don't just hope you'll make the next cut. Take control when you sense storm clouds gathering.

Although jobs may be lost in a change, more are always created, says Brian Tracy, author of Reinvention: How to Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life (AMACOM, 2009). Whether you stay put or move on, these six steps can help you greet an uncertain future with more confidence.

1 Keep Your Cool
Don't let fear of the unknown paralyze you. Workplace change expert Marlene Chism suggests you ask yourself: "Do I know what it takes to do my job now? Do I have what I need to get it done?"

If not, talk about it. Meet regularly with bosses and coworkers and set realistic goals for the period. Instead of worrying, release resistance to change and accept reality.

2 Manage Your Boss
Don't bury your head in the sand. If you worry that your boss may view you negatively, find out. Discover what he or she needs to succeed when priorities are shifting, then deliver it.

Make sure your boss--and your boss's boss--know how you've helped. You increase the likelihood of being viewed as indispensable.

3 Stay Current
Pay attention to reports about profits, mergers, or structural changes --but resist the urge to feed the rumor mill with dark predictions. Instead, master marketable skills. Seek feedback from higher-ups. Keep your resume current.

If you're a manager, survey employees to get a sense of their engagement level. Then enhance it by bringing them in on as much planning as possible. You'll stay grounded in the "now" while preparing for the future.

4 Check Your Network
Keep in touch with former colleagues and bosses. If they hired you once, they may do it again.

You'll also get a sense of what's happening around your industry. In 1990, Tracy notes, banks employed many millions. Then ATMs were introduced. Would you have seen that coming?

5 Spell Out Your Desires
Why do some people move forward while others seem stuck? Those who succeed decide on what they want, set goals, and go for it, Tracy says.

Many people never ask what they desire from life or their career, allowing the future to hang in the air. Write your dreams down, break them into manageable goals, and start tackling them.

6 Stay Open to Possibility
Tracy's heartfelt message is to view today's challenges as part of a larger plan that leads you toward your full potential.

After all, can you even recall your biggest challenge on this day a year ago? Stay open to the possibility that today's news is just as transitory.

By Stephanie Molnar, a feature writer for Vitality. For more information, visit the American Management Association at www.amanet.org.

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