The Cost Of Change - Keynote at Mainstream Conference 2015

We are the problem. The answer, communication.

Often people find that uncovering the best ideas is not enough to change an industry. That is because change is a complex challenge that involves complex human beings. To influence people to advocate for change, you must understand how storytelling works in a more powerful way than the raw data, as resistance to change comes from an emotional place rather than a logical one. Powerful and inspiring leadership is critical for taking people towards change that they may otherwise think is impossible or unnecessary. Human beings have a unique ability to reach beyond what seems achievable, but when inspired and motivated -, the results can be outstanding. This keynote was designed to share some of my experiences with change within a hardened industry; an industry that has been reluctant to change - more than most - as a result of the personal and environmental risks involved in the work it does every day.

People can be slow to adopt change, and are thus the primary source of slowing down adoption of new technology or practices. While we can’t control the actions and reactions of others, and should not try, we can control how WE respond and react. Good leaders see the actions and reactions of others and are able to see and develop the strengths of those around them. Leadership can only be called that when it creates and inspires other leaders (and it’s a bonus when those leaders also help to advocate for the change you want to implement). 

A great place to start in the art of leadership is to look inwards into your own development, both professionally and (I’d say more importantly) personally. Over time, you’ll begin to see the impact to your mental and emotional wellbeing and how that impacts your skills as a leader. When you begin to accept and embrace this growth, it changes how you engage with others and how you and your team move forward and enact change.

Developing yourself into a leader who understands that he/she is there to serve the greater organization is part of what will help you overcome the challenges you will come across in the face of change. To become a better leader, the first step is to learn how to listen to your team members; to learn to listen to those you’ve hired to do what is necessary to make your organization successful; to take your ability use storytelling to communicate effectively to create advocates who will fight the good fight.

So in the end, throughout my career I’ve come to learn that the driving force for successful business growth has come from my individual growth; from the hard work involved in becoming a good leader. It starts at home with your family and your friends and continues to the workplace with your colleagues. It’s tempting to try to enact change by any means necessary, but by developing yourself AND others, everyone wins. My personal growth is ongoing and is hard work but it is making me into what I hope others would call a good leader.

This is what I call, the cost of change. It is personal. It is active. It is a choice. The growth process doesn’t and shouldn’t end. Improving yourself and others is a wonderful thing, the business success will follow and change will soon become something people learn to welcome.