Inspiring video

Hello,

Here is an inspirational video for everyone.

http://www.poptech.com/popcasts/popcasts.aspx?lang=&viewcastid=211

Fascinating how the presenter can work with the teenager, make a few simple adjustments and watch how the talent transforms. Great view and is worth the 30 minutes!

Have a great week!

Resistance to Change

Hope everyone is well and you enjoy this weeks post!

Similar to my last post, many times companies interpret resistance to change improperly or they try to address a problem with the wrong kind of solution (i.e. technical solution to an adaptive problem).

Let me explain, resistance to change comes in 3 forms: rational, emotional, and personal. The first (rational) is understanding what the change is, how it will be managed, and what will the effects be. The second (emotional) is how we will react to the change, what feeling will we have, how will the culture and climate of the office/organization change. The third (personal) is based upon the trust in leadership. For example, I may not understand or like the change, but I will go along with it because I trust the leadership. Change expert Rick Maurer describes these types of resistance to change as "I don't get it," "I don't like it," and "I don't like you."

Leaders and managers need to address all three. However, many times (and I have been there), staff may be expressing a resist to change due to emotional reasons, but are met by managers who are trying to explain the rational bases for the change. This causes frustration from both sides because neither side feels that they are being heard. Unfortunately, they are not speaking the same language, or more precisely, from the same part of the brain. One side is speaking about emotions, and the other is speaking about rationalization. There is a disconnection and each side will blame the other for: not listening, being resistant, lack of compassion and understanding, not being team players, etc. We have all been there before and have had these conversations or thoughts.

The first step is realizing there are different forms of resistance to change and then listening for which one the other party is using. Once this is determined, then we can speak with them from the same vantage point and hopefully have a clearer discussion.

Enjoy the weekend,
Keith

Adaptive vs. Technical

Many issues or problems we face are adaptive problems, or in other words, generated from the complexities of the mind. For example, when most people go on a diet they state a numeric figure they wish to achieve; “I want to lose 10 lbs.” However, the desire is not to lose 10 lbs, many of us have accomplished this numerous times, but the goal should be to lose 10 lbs. and keep it off. However, usually after losing the weight, research states most people put the weight back on and add an additional 7%. This is caused by solving an adaptive problem with a technical solution. A technical solution is like removing an appendix or landing a plane. Basically, it is a routine or a process that is learned to achieve a specific result; much like that of a diet. A diet is a new routine one uses to lose weight and typically is discontinued once the goal is achieved.

Thus, the problem of shedding 10 lbs. and keeping it off will remain because the solution does not match the problem. There are many reasons why we put on weight over time; however few of them can be attributed to not knowing proper nutrition (technical). Most reasons relate specifically to: emotions, stress, needs, confidence, etc.; all adaptive problems developed through the woven complexities of our minds.

There is a great exercise called “Immunity to Change” which addresses the need for adaptive solutions and helps people attain the results desired. Give me a call, and I will be pleased to discuss this with you, or we can schedule a date and I can present this topic to your office. The example given dealt with weight loss, but many adaptive type problems occur at work, and U.S. companies spend billions addressing these issues with technical solutions and do not understand why the training was not successful.

Have a great week,

Keith

Beliefs

Those who lack belief will not in turn be believed.
~Tao Te Ching no. 23

This quote resonates with me because beliefs are such a polarizing concept and influence your life’s experiences. The key aspect to beliefs is flexibility. Not being rigid in your beliefs allows for freedom to always reexamine your beliefs even if the likelihood of ever changing is small.

Problems with beliefs usually occur when people are so rigid with their beliefs that other viewpoints are not welcome. For example, for many years people believed that breaking the 4-minute mile was not conceivable and medical journals from around the world stated the “fact” that it was physically impossible to accomplish. However, when Roger Bannister broke the 4-minute mile for the first time, a new possibility opened up for all runners. Runners had a new belief that running the mile in under 4 minutes was now possible. Within 18 months of Bannister’s record breaking feat, over 45 runners broke the 4-minute barrier. Would they have accomplished this feat without Bannister paving the way and changing their belief?

When we examine our lives, do we set up “facts” like the medical journals did in the previous example which prevent us from reaching our potential? Are our beliefs too rigid? Is there room in our beliefs for other possibilities? Leaving the door open to other possibilities does not diminish our beliefs, but provides freedom to always explore our realities. Have a great week!

Peace,
Keith