How To Succeed Anyway
I often receive questions from people who are dealing with high drama or exceedingly difficult circumstances in the workplace.
For example, we know statistically 50% of your career you’ll have a bad boss. My response is always, ‘the sooner you realize you can succeed anyway the better off your career will be.’
In this last article of my 10 steps series, I’m showing you how you can flip the script, and succeed anyway.
Succeed Anyway
You will always have extenuating circumstances - a less than perfect boss, too few resources, co-workers you don’t prefer and systems that lack in functionality. Lead your teams to success anyway.
There are two paths in life: one that leads to positive results and/or learning and one that leads to reasons, stories & excuses. If you want excuses, begin with judgment – decide that you are right and everyone else is wrong, argue with reality and play with poor mental processes. When deciding that you are right, you tend to become righteous over time and stop learning and seeking feedback.
We’ve often been told to “think outside of the box,” but our reality often provides us with constraints and circumstances (i.e. regulations, customer agreements, timelines, etc) that we must accept to build our plans for success. Instead of using your constraints as reasons and excuses of “why we can’t” simply draw a box. State your goal at the top. List two constraints on the sides. Given your constraints, ask your teams to generate "ways to succeed." This will help shift the energy from 'why we can’t' to 'how we can.'
Think Inside the Box
The time for thinking outside the box is great for strategic-planning efforts or business-process re-engineering efforts.
But “out of the box” thinking in problem-solving efforts often translates to ignoring company realities or constraints.
Instead of thinking about all the things that shouldn’t be happening or thinking of the ideal situation for you, recognize and accept your company’s goals and constraints (such as frozen headcount or limited funding) and think inside that box. If you need a productive way to kick-start this initiative with your team, try out our Reality-Based exercise, Thinking Inside The Box.
Director @ Johns Hopkins Community Physicians | Nursing and Education
6 年Saw you speak at the Magnet conference and was energized. Inside the box thinking is exactly what my team needs. Now, I’m asking how can we be successful with the tools we have. Thanks so much for your inspiring work.
Chief Imagination/Creative Officer & Head of Corporate Research New Business Development, at OmegaOne Financial Services & Capital Asset Management
6 年Thanks for sharing your discussion on “Thinking Inside the Box!” I thought it was simply incredible Cy, and will certainly recommend your “How To Succeed Anyway” to others!
Business Recycling Coordinator, City of Newport News
6 年So true. During my Military Career, I learned this basic truth. the mission still ahs to be done. You have the resources you have. Just get it done. Fact is that there are people in leadership positions who are not the best at leading. However, they are there and you are not. My dad used ot say (And he often quoted himself) "If you spend half the time you spent complaining about the job, it would be done by now..." Just like Drama,...
Founder at Aspire2STEAM.org, providing scholarships and recognition to overlooked young women and girls pursuing STEAM education, in addition to and paid opportunities for students to learn how to run a nonprofit.
6 年Yes, yes, yes! We get so enamored with the sex appeal of outside-of-the box thinking that we forget about the magic of getting inside of the box and working it out for the people that matter most —you, your team, and those you serve! Thanks Cy and team, yet again, for your inspiring words!
HR Leader | Experienced Strategic Partner | #HR
6 年Advice I share often when employees come to me struggling through issues with their managers. Own the outcome and take the drivers seat. Thanks