Calling Change Warriors!
The old ways don’t work.
There are three secrets to powering change and surviving the new:
The three D’s will take us straight to the trip-wires: Disruption, Diversity and Dynamic tension.
Disruption can be constant interruptions in the Always On mind-set of organisational expectations, or it can be huge game-changing, innovation-potential shifts. Either way, disruption is a given and you and your team need to unlearn all the habits built-in to resist exactly that.
Diversity is essential, undeniable and a fact. Even in a group of homogeneous people in terms of colour, gender, religion and political persuasion, you have diversity with unique styles of thinking, doing and perceiving. This is the secret to on-going solutions. Making room for this to work well requires reprogramming company culture. Building room for diversity creates freedom and choice which is both challenging and vital.
Dynamic tension is the creative crux of maintaining the power of success, as well as the ability to push through to the next level. It’s the sweet spot between stress and passion. It’s the secret rocket fuel of the successful and engaged.
The only way to use these trip-wires to your advantage is to unlearn old styles and imprint new ones, both personally and collectively. Powering change requires a collaborative group of key influencers that are willing to break some of their own rules, allow the play required for unravelling bad habits and know how to recognise the moments of genius that spark and reveal new ways. This is not a process for timid or don’t-rock-the-boat-I’m-nearly-retired leaders.
If you have the calling to forge a new way through old cultures, you are not alone. There may not be a well-established route and a list of what to do and how, but there is a basic treasure map and some key pieces of information. Look for allies in those that are able to dream, adapt and move with lightness. Be brave, follow your gut and trust the energy of change.