Change Is Good…You Go First

Change is not easy. But it is simple. Things will always change. We don’t have a choice about that, but we do have a choice on how we react to change. The choice really boils down to this: Either we manage change, or it will manage us.

As a leader, however, deciding to make changes is the easy part. Getting your people on board is much more difficult. Why is that? Quite simply, change is an emotional process. We are all creatures of habit who usually resist it, and welcome routine. Unchartered waters are scary! In the long run, however, sameness is the fast track to mediocrity. And mediocre companies won’t survive. Tuli Kupferburg said it best…“When patterns are broken, new worlds emerge.” And that is your challenge…to convince your team that the new world you are trying to create is better than the one you’re in. Is it easy? Of course not. It takes planning, commitment, patience, and courage.

The truth, of course, is that change can be a wonderful gift. In fact, it is the key that unlocks the doors to growth and excitement in any organization. And, most importantly, without it, your competition will pass you by. A big part of success, as a leader, will be your ability to inspire your team to get out of their comfort zones; to assure them that even though they are on a new path, it’s the right path, for the right reasons.

Change Is Good…You Go First is a book with great ideas to inspire change in your organization. I’d like to share a chapter titled “Change What Needs Changing, Not What’s Easy.” Enjoy!