5 Ways to Win the Fight Against Complacency

In my last newsletter, I spoke of the need to rethink resilience.

Many leaders have resigned themselves to the idea of what resilience meant in action: a reactive exercise to survive crises vs a proactive practice to adapt to crises.?

It feels like resilience means nothing more than finding a way to get business back into the comfort zone of old work models after disruption hits. Whereas disruption offers the ideal opportunity to learn, improve, and innovate.

The complacency trap is easy to step into.

And unfortunately, it’s a situation where a reactive approach won’t make a difference. By the time complacency becomes a problem, it’s too late. The consequences are already felt and become symptomatic of a much bigger problem...

Not using crises as a motive to change!

Rooting out complacency starts with the self and the big-picture question…?

“How responsible am I?”

→ I’ve recorded more than 180 episodes of the Transform Talks Podcast.?

→ I’ve attended more events in Q1 of 2023 than Q1 of 2022.?

→ I’ve written 30 Transform Thoughts newsletters in the past 12 months.

I see these as active manifestations of the way I avoid becoming a redundant voice when I know my industry needs disruption. They all stem from 5 things I do to avoid falling for the complacency trap. Here they are...

1. Accept Personal Accountability

This year has been a year of reflection.

I’ve been confronted with many challenges that have shaped me as a professional. Most significant has been the acceptance of my role not as a supply chain expert, but as a business expert that positions supply chain through a different lens.?

It means that I cannot have the same discussion as everyone else if I don’t agree with them. When big topics become buzzwords, I call them out. I cut through conversations that are meant to invite debate but are layered with jargon that real stakeholders can’t understand. I fiercely label a lack of action when people build expectations on empty promises.?

If we want to cut through the noise, then it’s our responsibility to raise our voices. That means defending our creeds, challenging the norm, and accepting that change is constant and will never happen when we are idle.

If we fought for the space, then we need to own it once we have it. No matter what position we are in.

2. Expose Yourself By Building a Brand

I’ve been branding myself on LinkedIn for 18 months.

I have been:

• Impactfully sharing the views I’ve built across a 25-year career, refusing to be anything but unapologetically honest and transparent in the stories I’ve shared.
• Exploring the ways that I am providing value and where I need to focus to continue making a difference in my industry (even if that means pivoting direction).
• Testing biases I’ve held subconsciously about work, my personal life, and even what it means to be a “professional” in a 2023 digital, post-Covid world.
• Learning that although supply chain is my focus area, my voice isn’t one-dimensional and that we all should be seeking opportunities to maximise our impact.

My career was built on a strong commercial philosophy and background. But that didn’t make me an expert at selling myself. It was through careful experimentation and exposure to an online audience that I cultivated the leader I am today.

It’s helped me connect with my strengths and be aware of my shortcomings.

3. Network to Validate Your Philosophy

There is a great deal of shame attached to the idea of disrupting set ways of thinking.

During times of turmoil and uncertainty (something we have made bedmates with in the last 3 years), there’s nothing worse than sticking your head above the parapet to say, “I think we should do this differently.”

Walking the path of a disruptor is lonely. You risk your credibility and invite ridicule for challenging an established way of thinking.? But maybe the “disruptors” wouldn’t be seen as so rebellious if an open-minded approach to solutions were normalised. That said, if it was normalised there wouldn’t be a need for disruptors.

Challenging mindsets (much like global crises) is a task none of us can handle alone. This is why collaboration is so important. Finding other voices that rise up against the status quo are necessary to make a dent in established practices.

So connect and work with the people who are as passionate about change as you are.

4. Find Ways to Deprogramme

As a Gen Xer, I’ve always felt we’re in a unique position to learn from the generational cohorts that preceded and later succeed us.

On the precedent of authority alone, I’ve had to rewrite my ideas of how to exercise it. I was mentored by leaders whose authority was unquestionable - leaders whose assertive approach to their teams drove progress and got things done.

But for as long as I can remember I have mentored teams that didn’t respond to that style of leadership. They questioned my decisions, proposed different ideas and became active participants to direct our efforts to the final solution. They seek more empathy and appreciation for their views.

Two different approaches. Each with its merits. Each with its flaws.

Yet both have value as merged in a new style of leadership that drives real change in a business world with new challenges.

As a near-50-year-old business leader, I am proud of leveraging this position to second-guess the models, strategies and methodologies I grew up with and find new ways to be relevant.

Surround yourself with diverse thinkers. Your audience is not as homogeneous as it once was.

5. Position Yourself as the Tool for Change

Many industries are seeing digital transformation as the enabler to change.

But in fact, it is only an enabler of solutions.

I’ve seen many experts revert to the safety net of pre-COVID thinking, believing that technology was the only missing link in giving them a competitive advantage. But this places too much pressure and reliance on tech - especially the kind that may not fit the contextual needs and infrastructure of the business hoping to use it.

More than ever, we as leaders need to step into the mindset of driving the change and transformation we hope to see. We can’t rely on the latest innovation to present itself as the holy grail to save us from all our issues.

Our strategies and leadership qualities remain the tools in our belt to logically assess the risks we face and find the solutions that will fit.

Ultimately, the responsibility falls to us. Not our resources.

Let’s position ourselves as the agents of change.

_____________________________________

I’m curious to know… how do you fight complacency?

Because as an industry leader, you aren’t alone.

More than 130,000 execs within the Future Insights Network are trying to define and redefine the concepts that keep their leadership in supply chain meaningful. You can become part of our movement to discover how best to disrupt the old patterns that have been holding you back to make a dent in your business.

For over 180 episodes of my podcast, Transform Talks, I’ve interviewed leaders whose specific journeys, challenges, and insights show just how complicated it is to navigate the responsibility to remain active. As buzzwords dominate the way we keep our business moving, it’s important to rally the voices of reason that can help us cut through the hype.

Acknowledging the complacency trap is the only way we’ll build resilience. And I'm excited to attend gatherings that are driving solutions to do so!

Come join me at this year’s Home Delivery USA conference and exhibition on the 14th and 15th of June at The Pennsylvania Convention Centre. Watch me take the stage with Keelin Evans (the VP of Sustainability for Macy's ) to discuss navigating the journey to implementing sustainable solutions in supply chain.

This year’s edition of Home Delivery World USA will be drawing 5000+ attendees and 350+ exhibitors and hosting 250+ speakers across 150+ sessions. Head over to www.terrapinn.com/conference/home-delivery-world to see the full speaker lineup and secure your ticket.