Navigating the ripples

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Washington, DC with my family. I love being able to visit our nation's capital, seeing the historical sites and it seems that I learn something new each time that I visit. The same was true on this visit as well.

One of the monuments that always catches my attention is the Jefferson Memorial. As you travel into the city from the Reagan Airport, the monument is one of the first things you see, along with the Washington Monument. The statue of Jefferson looms large inside the memorial, with inscriptions surrounding him. This time, one of those inscriptions caught my attention like never before.

On the Southeast Portico, it says, "I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, and more enlightened, new discoveries are made, new truths are discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as a civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."

As I reflected on those words, several things came to mind. Jefferson quickly recognized that change was inevitable. As a society, we are constantly learning. We have to be able to adapt to those changes as we continue to learn. The other thing that caught my attention was what Jefferson did not say. Jefferson was all about progress, but he never said to forget where you came from. In fact, if you study his writings, Jefferson emphasized remembering where you came from, but never being scared of change and the future.

Change is one of the hardest things to navigate, whether as a leader or member of a team. It can be as disruptive as throwing a large rock into a lake. It causes ripples and changes all around it, but eventually, it will smooth out. Exceptional leaders (and organizations) learn to navigate the ripples. They anticipate and prepare, knowing that eventually, the ripples will smooth out and a new normal (that includes the change) will happen.

Our mindset in approaching change is critical. To be an exceptional leader, we must approach change knowing that it is constant. Not because we are a failure, but because we are always learning. Change should excite us as it means an opportunity for growth and improvement. Instead of trying to avoid change, our desire should be to improve how we navigate the ripples.

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