Life Conversations: This Is How It Is Done

Do you want to be the same person as last year? - Ashish

Years of leading business transformation has shown me some typical patterns companies and employees display that gets in the way of a successful change.

'This is how it is done,' is one of the biggest Achilles heels for any transformation initiative. This stems from 'conventional wisdom' which by all means is practical and had a place in the history of the companies story. The challenge is that with changing times, no one stops to ask the question if the conventional wisdom stands true anymore? The conventional wisdom is about the 'right thing to do,' without profoundly thinking about why we do it?

'This is how it is done,' had significant value at one time. But staying with it forever is about orthodoxy and rigidity, rather than accepting new data points. The challenge for a transformation leader is to break down the anchors that memory and history have created for employees so that collectively we all move forward.

There are a few things we can do to help our companies (including change for ourselves if we want) as a transformation leader.

1. Understand human behavior and the source of their rigidity

2. Ask better questions so you may encourage new thoughts

3. Honor the history, but don't let it anchor new ideas

4. Encourage a 'beginner mind' work culture

5. Embrace impermanence and remind what we create today will change tomorrow

6. Be transparent

Remember 'action' is a choice, not a rule. Choose your action and help transform your work and life.

#Attitude #Change #Transformation