Change Fundamentals

CHANGE

When you hear the word CHANGE is a business context where does your head go to first – positive or negative???It depends on the situation of course I know, but where do you think most people’s, minds go first?

I believe that how think about change can stand you out as a leader / business owner.

Purpose

The purpose of this Linked in newsletter is to inspire and enables business owners, leaders and managers like you to make proactive choices and changes that support you and your teams on your journey to success and beyond!

I’ll be raising questions, sharing examples and best practice to provoke thought and more importantly action.???I’ll share practical models and tips you can use within your business to support your change and make a real difference.

In each newsletter I’ll include an article to get you thinking about practical changes you could make within your business, questions to provoke new thoughts, the odd quote to inspire and where relevant I’ll add links to additional useful reference materials and or events.

Introduction

My background is in business development, marketing, and innovation – conceiving and developing and implementing new solutions that add value to those they serve, the customers, the clients, the business, and its stakeholders.??Now as a business coach I act as a facilitator and agent for change, to help business owners and executives like you realise their full potential – in business and in life.

CHANGE takes many forms, in nature for example …

A tsunami engulfing everything in its path!

The natural cycle of the seasons we live through each year.

The metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly…

Positive or negative change takes Energy!??And Energy take effort!

I often remind clients that as humans we are designed for efficiency!??For most of us to get our energy in motion (to get motivated) we’ll need a strong enough reason.??You know the sayings: where there is a will there is a way!??Needs-must et al.???We’ve all been there – when you want it, really want it, you’ll find the way.

Ask yourself.??What change do I want to make?

Don’t yet know – that’s ok – first ask what is it that you really want and then if you’ve not already got or achieved that, what needs to change?

Change Fundamentals

I believe that three key things are?fundamental for driving significant meaningful change in individuals and their teams:

·???????How we think – aka Mindset. (or, mind-shift, as I prefer as it does not have to be set, just open).

·???????The choices we make – aka Strategy.

·???????The action we take and inspire – aka Leadership and teamwork.

The breadth and depth of what l cover of course goes wider, but these lie at the heart!

In this inaugural issue I’ll touch briefly on each and give you one question for each you can ask yourself right now, so we can begin making a change for the better.

Mind-shift

I am a firm believer that your mindset is the most important component for personal and business growth, it shapes your attitudes, beliefs, and values, all of which have a profound effect on your potential and how you see opportunities.???A growth mindset, characterized by a willingness to embrace challenges, learn from failures, and persist in the face of challenge, can enable you to continuously develop your skills and achieve your goals.??In business, your growth mindset can drive innovation and creativity, helping you adapt to changing markets and technologies.?

That said it’s fair to say that we will all have limiting beliefs and default settings, often so entrenched in our subconscious we don’t realise they are there!??An awareness of these is often a great first step to start unlocking your full potential.

Ask yourself.???What is holding me back?

“If you can dream it, you can do it”?

Walt Disney

Strategy

So, with an open mind and glass ceilings smashed you can consider the choices open to you from a different perspective.??The vision you have for your business can expand and the direction clarified by tapping into your true purpose of the things that are important to you.?

I’m a massive advocate of the mastermind approach when it comes to important long term strategic choices – why not gain the perspective of other experts and the support of someone who can draw the best out of you.

Getting the strategy right and making the right choices is vital in business because quite simply it stops you wasting time and money going in the wrong direction!??A well-crafted strategy also provides a framework for decision-making, ensuring that all actions are aligned with your goals and objectives.??It helps to identify opportunities, prioritize initiatives, and allocate resources effectively. Making the right choices involves a combination of analysis, intuition, and judgment, as well as the ability to balance short-term gains with long-term objectives. Ultimately, a great strategy and effective decision-making can stand you out from the crowd and drive your continued sustainable growth.

Ask yourself.??Where are we going?

“The best way to predict the future is to create it”

Abraham Lincoln.

Leadership

A great strategy needs execution and leadership plays a crucial role in effective change by guiding and inspiring individuals and organizations to embrace and implement change.?

“Strategy without execution is useless – Execution without strategy is aimless”.

A leader's vision, communication, and ability to motivate and align people around a common purpose are essential for driving successful change initiatives.??Remember leadership is a state of mind not a job title – so it does not matter if you’ve just a small team of employees or a virtual team of freelancers, you need to give direction and inspire action.??

As leaders you must create a compelling case for change, demonstrating the benefits and rationale for why the change is necessary.??You must also build trust and commitment, ensuring that individuals feel supported and empowered throughout the change process.??

Effective leaders are adaptable and flexible, able to adjust plans and strategies as circumstances evolve. They encourage experimentation, learning, and risk-taking, while also providing a clear sense of direction and accountability.??By providing guidance, motivation, and support, effective leadership can transform resistance into enthusiasm and ensure that change efforts are sustained over the long term.

Ask yourself.??How might I better communicate and inspire those I work with?

“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality”

Warren Bennis

Action

You might choose to build upon your initial answers to these questions into a 123/321 action plan.

If you are not familiar with one of those this is how it works.

First prioritise your answers based on what is most important to you right now from 1 (most important) to 3 (least important).???Then assign 3 actions to 1, 2 to 2 and 1 to 3 accordingly.?

Your questions.

1. What's holding me back?
2. Where are we going?
3. How can I better communicate and inspire those I work with?

Next time

In the next issue, l will introduce you to one of my go to models of change.??One I love it because of its practicality and it’s multilevel thinking - it’s a great planning tool that I often remind people of at planning sessions so they cover all angles.

It’s part of my DNA as a curious individual, coach, and strategic innovator to ask questions, so expect more as we go to encourage you to think and act differently.???I’ll sometimes look at things from a completely different perspective simply to provoke and encourage you to look at things another way.???You must understand it’s not about me being right, my questions when coaching are not about judgement they are to provoke.???You are then free to choose what you ignore and what is useful for you to keep and do something with.

If you've any comments or questions please get in touch.

James

https://linktr.ee/JamesGentle

#Jamesgentle #changecoach #businesscoaching #businessstratgey #mindsetmatters #leadershipdevelopment #hertfordshirebusiness