Focusing on change can be the hardest thing we do
It’s not easy to change. Old habits die hard but sometimes, they are precisely the things we need to kill off if we are going to progress our careers or businesses. When I look at what’s impeding growth in people and organisations today I am certain one of the biggest road blocks is an inability to get out of the comfort zones created by years of doing what has worked for us. It’s the old story; “if you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got”.
If we want change, we need to change
It’s obvious then that we need to let go of some old practices if we are going to achieve the new goals we set for our businesses or ourselves. On this subject, I had the pleasure of hearing Dan Barnett, an esteemed global authority on what drives business success; speak at the 20/20 Conference in Sydney this week for the Executive Connection. Dan quoted Jack Welch, ex Chairman and CEO of General Electric as saying “if the rate of change in your business is not exceeding the rate of change outside of your business, the end is in site”. Now that is truly sobering, and it should be a major motivator to drive change if you are looking to reach a new level.
Best practice requires the creation of new habits
Elite performance requires massive dedication to doing the right things, over and over again. Great coaches of successful sporting teams know this, they instil new ways of doing the same things and then run drills that ensure new habits are formed. We need these ‘best practices’ to become habitual because they then become second nature, and that only comes via constant repetition.
So, do you need to change?
Because we like to do the things we are most comfortable with, change is truly difficult. However, if you are frustrated with the lack of pace in your career or business, chances are something is getting in the way, and if you are going to succeed, you need to change whatever that is. If you don’t, the end may be in site.
Rod Buchecker
Rod Buchecker is an expert in helping people find what they need to focus on in order to be successful.