Seriously, do you resist shifting?
“If you want to make enemies try to change something.”
– Woodrow Wilson
Let’s start with this thought –
Everyone can be a leader, not everyone chooses to lead. Carley Fiorina said this to me recently in Orlando.
Now one thing is for certain and tied to this statement – people do not like change – period end of story. When I go into companies to initially look around and speak with employees, I walk the work environment and see how things get done before working with their organization.
I’ll ask the question “Why do you do it this way?’ The most common answer that I get back is: ‘Well, that is how we have always done it”.
This brings to mind some other items Carley Fiorina discussed…
There are many constraints and conditions throughout organizations.
Managers have to operate within these parameters. Leaders must challenge these, change these, solve the problems and change things for the better. A leader has to challenge the way things are by changing the order of things.
“Executives are often reluctant to accept the need for change; they may have a vested interest in the status quo, or they may feel that time will eventually vindicate their previous choices. Indeed, when we ask executives what prompts them to seek out blue oceans and introduce change, they usually say that it takes a highly determined leader or a serious crisis.”
― W. Chan Kim, Blue Ocean Strategy, Expanded Edition: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant
A leader must solve the problems in front of them.
They know all change faces criticism and resistance. When leaders lead good things happen. Some problems are really complex. When change is being reviewed in these areas the resistance is extremely strong.
“In times of rapid change, experience could be your worst enemy”
– J. Paul Getty
Here is a tip – a helpful thought for you if you are part of a change process either leading the change or a participant in the change…
Look within first. See where you are and why you are there?
Are you buying in to the changes? Do you have all of the facts and the reasons behind the changes? Are you more comfortable in your role and keeping everything the same is much less risky for you?
Take the time to think these answers through. You may wish to sit with someone else involved and both discuss each others answers to these questions.
This is not just about your career and work. We are all resistant to change in all aspects of our lives. This may be moving where we live to painting our home to relationships changing in our family and to loss of loved ones. There is much more – just know that the feelings about change are consistent in any change in our lives.
“Paralyze resistance with persistence.”
– Woody Hayes
Mitch Tublin is the CEO and Founder of Wenkroy International LLC a boutique consulting company with a main focus on Strategic Business Consulting, Training and Business Coaching. Our passion is to take people to the next level in their life and in their business. Are you interested in having Mitch speak at your company or event – click here?
