‘If’ is one of the smallest words in the English language but, my goodness, it carries the biggest consequences. ?
Within each of us lies the power to make ourselves successful – wouldn’t you agree? Success is a choice, one which can be made in a few magical moments if, and only if, we are brave enough to face our fears and tackle the hurdles that we all-too-often invent for ourselves.
There’s that mightily powerful word: if.
‘If’ refers to choices. Choices that most of us are afraid of. It is human nature to find change scary, so we deny ourselves choices. We self-sabotage. And we invent constructs of the world that allow us to justify our poor choices.
Having seen this fear of choice deter some people from success, we want to help you look more deeply at your decisions and help you choose the right environment in which to flourish.
Choosing an eco-system where you can succeed ?
When you join a business, you become part of a team – part of that company’s eco-system. If you’re actively invested in being successful, you choose a team that has a track record of success. You choose to work alongside winners because, in theory, you will have the opportunity every day to learn from, and benefit from, the winners that are central to your new ecosystem.?
But finding a successful ecosystem is the easy bit, isn’t it?
The looming threat of change
We work closely with leaders who have a collective experience garnered from many years spent at a variety of agencies and companies. Together, we see a clear distinction between those who join our teams with a willingness to contribute to, modify and develop their constructs of the world around them, versus those who become quickly disillusioned when they realise that they can’t force their new ecosystem to wholly accommodate the construct they are clinging to for dear life.
The phrase ‘clinging to for dear life’ may seem contentious. But is it not being employed without substantiation.
Ecosystems evolve over time. A good ecosystem will maintain an upward spiral: an ever-evolving sense of progress. Naturally, this can result in healthy tensions. The tectonic plates that underpin a business can shift dramatically, requiring everyone to quickly adapt. But within this ecosystem, the leaders at the helm will ensure that the business keeps moving with direction, purpose and prosperity.
Problems arise for those in the team who feel threatened by change. Who feel overwhelmed by the prospect of it exposing or attacking their construct of the world.
The shifting tectonic plates become cliffs, and those fearful people can be found hanging by their fingertips, unable or unwilling to accept help from the colleagues reaching down to rescue them. They refuse to reveal vulnerabilities and cannot or will not refresh their view of the new landscape.
So, how can you ensure you don’t succumb to this pitfall?
How to pragmatically navigate an ecosystem and ensure success
Navigating an ecosystem so that you can succeed within it comes down to a set of simple principles:
- Are you willing to follow and learn from those around you with more experience, perhaps your leaders?
- Do you sign up to the direction the business is taking?
- Does the purpose of the company have meaning for you?
- Is the business prosperous?
- If so, is that prosperity shared amongst the team?
- Lastly, are you willing to invest sufficient time to get under the surface of the company and truly understand all the dynamics at play?
In order to deeply understand these principles in reality, consider your choices in the following circumstance:
You’ve decided to join a new team
- Do you know what that team’s purpose is? This isn’t about making money. It’s about how they are making the world a better place. Do they mean what they say? Is it felt across the company culture? If you choose a team whose ethos aligns with yours, it won’t matter if everything goes wrong, all your colleagues are off sick, clients are screaming at you and the weather outside is appalling. The business’ higher purpose will still hold sway for you.
- Do you understand how you bring value to the business? In any business, a person initially represents resource. It takes time to become part of an ecosystem and bring about positive change. If for the first few months, you know how you are helping the business remain prosperous, you will naturally take that next step to becoming a deeply ingrained member of the ecosystem.?a.?It's important to be aware that the talent war, which engendered a feeling amongst employees of being able to dictate terms, is over. For pretty much every vacant role, there is now five or six very suitable candidates. So, you have to ask yourself, if you find a role you really want, are you prepared to dig deep and present the best version of yourself in order to win it?b. When agreeing the terms for future remuneration, if you want to stand some chance of success, it's important to do it in the context of what additional value you believe you can bring to the team and business. The days of "give me more money or I'll leave," are over for all of us. Most businesses will be delighted to remunerate and reward team members if they proactively suggest how they believe they can do more for the company.?
- Do you respect your colleagues and are you open to their ideas and points of view? Their life experiences are as valid as yours. If you are willing to get under their skin and see beyond the eminence fronts, you will learn the true personalities you’re working with. Remember to be kind in light of others’ vulnerabilities, while acknowledging that they have strengths and bring value to the wider team.?
- How do you feel about following leadership? Nobody ever works for a company. We all work for, and follow, leaders. So consider how you feel about your leaders and what happens if you disagree with them. If there is sufficient trust, you will follow the direction they set, even when you disagree. After all, the business is most likely prosperous because of their consistent efforts, over a long period of time. If you learn the ecosystem, a good leader will make the space for you to contribute, to bring about change and do things your way.
- It may sound counter-intuitive, but if you want to get noticed within the context of a business' ecosystem, you'll need to be a net contributor of positive energy and avoid cliques and politics. We all have our off days, so you have to ask yourself, if you're having one of those days, are you able to avoid being one of those people who indulges in negative spin? A business’ leadership will be endeavouring to ensure a positive and constructive culture. It's very easy for any of us, on a difficult day, to lend an ear to people who aim to assert their own identity or agenda by making out they know ‘secret stuff’ or that ‘the company is wrong but surprise, surprise, they're right’.?Are you prepared to avoid this temptation?
- Is the business prosperous? At the end of the day, numbers don’t lie. Money cannot be the purpose for a team, but it is a measure of that team’s health and functionally; it shows if you have supported the team’s ability to work effectively as one. ?
- Are you willing to give it time? A good accountant will be able to show you the real cost of a business employing a new team member. It is a huge investment and risk for more businesses, one that generally takes two years for the business to recoup. So, if you are striking a deal when you take a new role, are you willing to give it the time for that business to recoup that investment? And, in return, are you convinced, as those years tick by and you make an ever-growing contribution, that they will reward you for that contribution?
- And finally, most importantly, how good are your learning and listening skills? Consider if you are able to suspend your biases and constructs long enough to see the world from your leaders’ and your colleagues’ perspectives. And if they can do the same for you.
Make the magical choice to succeed
We’ve established that being successful is a magical choice that can be made in just a few moments, if you are brave enough to face your fears.
Most people will find the questions, and the ‘ifs’ above terrifying; let us know what your choices would be under those circumstances.
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1 年great read Stephen Page
Head of Travel at BaxterStorey
1 年Great post Stephen, especially at a time when a lot is changing in our world that impact the dynamics of the business, team and individuals… nowadays changes come so quickly that it can also become addictive to change for the sake of change… but it is never too late to embrace the “If”
Executive and Team Coach - Helping leaders have more success and wellbeing when under pressure
1 年Stephen, your insightful post about the untapped potential within us is spot on. It resonates how this energy, when flowing, leads to creativity and team successes. I agree about the role of choice. Often, we’re trapped in doubts, and a reminder can help regain clarity and action. And, what to do when someone remains stuck? It happens, even among the best of us in the most dynamic teams. At times this creative energy can overwhelm us with fears and doubts that feel real. I've certainly found myself in this place. I think this is where true leadership shines. The best leader I worked with was uncommon in choosing curiosity over judgment in such situations, instead of being directive he asked questions that helped individuals gain personal insights, rekindling their dormant energy and bringing out their best. His ability to do this not only with individuals but with entire teams was remarkable. Though some who remained stuck had to part ways, most thrived, contributing to the development of several ￡100m+ businesses. Your article points to a simple truth: we’re all human, doing our best to navigate our thoughts and emotions. Helping others access their best selves for the good of themselves and others is a noble goal.
Executive Assistant to SVPs at Cloudera
1 年This post is both realistic and positive — in my mind, key attributes of balanced thinking and helpful advice.
Marketing Director & Co-Founder
1 年Very well put Stephen. Lots to consider here! You are so right, people are afraid of change, but why??Positive change is good and should be embraced. In this modern world of work, change is all around us, and adapting to that change is fundamental if you are going to be successful.?Agility is key, and people, and therefore companies, who adopt an agile mindset do thrive and succeed; but as you say, finding the right culture and ecosystem to enable you to thrive and succeed can be challenging. The older I get; the more important culture has become to me personally. Finding your tribe is key if you are to succeed.