"Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change" - Confucius
For most of the country this week, the picture above was reality. In the Midwest, it still is! We continue to be pounded by cold Arctic winds and whirling snow. Even the most ardent of snow lovers has to be tired of this winter and ready for some quiet. Especially for those in the bigger cities, it's been tough to stand firm with the winds swirling from every direction. I long for hot, steamy, still, 90 degree days!
Blizzards aren't easy for animals or plants to survive. The low pressure, high winds, and frozen temps take their toll. Trees and shrubs suffer from broken branches, split stems, leaning trunks, and splayed open branch arms.Shrubs can easily be destroyed by piles of banked snow. They can become permanently deformed and unshapely to the point where they need to be removed. Snowplows and snow blowers take their toll as well when shrubs or small trees are inadvertently run over. Dormancy is a tree's only protection. Hopefully, it has the strength and resiliency to stand tall and not flip flop in the torrid frigid winds. Only Spring will reveal the damages. Trees and shrubs aren't alone in the winds of change....
Like trees and shrubs, leadership can take a beating. No matter what your experience, age, or education, leadership isn't easy. Sometimes you make a stake in the sand on an issue only to change your direction. It takes a strong, confident, empowered person to publicly stand up and make a change. Just make sure that you don't make a habit of changing your mind depending on how the wind blows or you will loose all creditability and be know as... "The Flip Flopper"! Washington is full of "flip flopper's" and we all know how we feel about the lack of leadership that exists in DC. No one wants to follow a leader who can't stand firm for the betterment of the team and who truly doesn't care about team goals or growth.
Change is inevitable and we all need to accept it and roll with it. We definitely don't have to like it. Unfortunately none of us owns a crystal ball and we can't allow ourselves to remain linear or static thinkers. If you are placed in the difficult position of changing your mind on a program, goal, or project, make sure that you communicate the change as well thought out and calculated. Tell the team your story about how and why you came to your decision of making a change. Be confident, strong, empathetic, and explain that you are changing to get back on the right path, not the easy one. It truly takes courage to admit that your were wrong and need to make a change because it impacts so many resources. Digging your heels in and not willing to bend is a weakness. Remember, all plants and trees bend in the wind and it ultimately makes them stronger. The same principal applies to you - just don't allow the wind to make your decisions for you!
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| Photo Courtesy of Taivasall via Compfight.com |
Blizzards aren't easy for animals or plants to survive. The low pressure, high winds, and frozen temps take their toll. Trees and shrubs suffer from broken branches, split stems, leaning trunks, and splayed open branch arms.Shrubs can easily be destroyed by piles of banked snow. They can become permanently deformed and unshapely to the point where they need to be removed. Snowplows and snow blowers take their toll as well when shrubs or small trees are inadvertently run over. Dormancy is a tree's only protection. Hopefully, it has the strength and resiliency to stand tall and not flip flop in the torrid frigid winds. Only Spring will reveal the damages. Trees and shrubs aren't alone in the winds of change....
 |
| Picture courtesy of Red Andre via Compfight.com |
Do you work with leadership that seems to flip flop with the wind?
Like trees and shrubs, leadership can take a beating. No matter what your experience, age, or education, leadership isn't easy. Sometimes you make a stake in the sand on an issue only to change your direction. It takes a strong, confident, empowered person to publicly stand up and make a change. Just make sure that you don't make a habit of changing your mind depending on how the wind blows or you will loose all creditability and be know as... "The Flip Flopper"! Washington is full of "flip flopper's" and we all know how we feel about the lack of leadership that exists in DC. No one wants to follow a leader who can't stand firm for the betterment of the team and who truly doesn't care about team goals or growth.
Change is inevitable and we all need to accept it and roll with it. We definitely don't have to like it. Unfortunately none of us owns a crystal ball and we can't allow ourselves to remain linear or static thinkers. If you are placed in the difficult position of changing your mind on a program, goal, or project, make sure that you communicate the change as well thought out and calculated. Tell the team your story about how and why you came to your decision of making a change. Be confident, strong, empathetic, and explain that you are changing to get back on the right path, not the easy one. It truly takes courage to admit that your were wrong and need to make a change because it impacts so many resources. Digging your heels in and not willing to bend is a weakness. Remember, all plants and trees bend in the wind and it ultimately makes them stronger. The same principal applies to you - just don't allow the wind to make your decisions for you!
How to make a change and NOT be perceived as a "Flip Flopper"
- Clearly outline how your thoughts evolved to decide on a change. Use data, goals, outcomes, to help justify the change. Make sure that the change is clearly communicated and mapped out so everyone knows why and how they will be impacted.
- Define that the change is for the betterment of everyone and not just one area or department. Confidently assure the team that you support them and will be with them down the road to success. The worst thing that a manager can do is to make a change just because it will benefit one small group or make it easier for them to do their job. That strategy will breed resentment and suspicion unless everyone benefits and can be successful.
- Sometimes you only need to change a small tactic within an overall plan as in a sales or marketing alteration. The overall plan remains the same and you will still move in the same wind direction, but you do need to communicate this change to the group as well.
- Be empathic and show your people that changing gears isn't easy for you either. You didn't just dream up a change for the sake of change. Detail how you will need to take on more responsibility as well and how any changes impact your work load.
- Don't make change one sided. Ask for feedback from the group. Ask how they think that changes should be implemented and what steps that they feel will enhance the outcome. Always make others a piece of the puzzle so that they feel like they are with you on your journey of change. They will feel empowered, you will gain more buy in. Don't dictate - gently blow in the same wind direction. The team will be stronger for it.
Have you been a ''Flip Flopper" or worked with one? Don't be one and don't work with one!