What would you do if you weren't afraid?

This year has been unique for everyone with COVID 19 and many people have had to adapt themselves. Whether it be their working situation, their home situation or just life in general. Certainly as a leader I am constantly reflecting on and observing those around me - often when there is a problem that needs to be solved I have to go back to the "What do I believe, how could I be wrong?" questions that will then help me look more closely at the situation and whether the person I am working with has the mindset to change. 

Many people that I have worked with have the question "Is change easy or hard?" Think about that one. Personally I think it depends on the mindset of the person. Change should be easy - with the right mindset and asking the right questions we should be able to look at the situation differently. But change can also be hard. When people have a fixed mindset it is often something that has served as a good purpose in the past - it's worked for them. The problem with this is that a fixed mindset becomes embedded into who you think you are. 

 Who moved my cheese by Spencer Johnson is a great example of this idea of adapting to change. If you haven't had the opportunity to read it you must! It's an easy quick read that really makes you think about who as a person you are within the story and how you adapt to change. The book features 
four characters: two mice, "Sniff" and "Scurry," and two Littlepeople, human metaphor, "Hem" and "Haw." (The names of the Littlepeople are taken from the phrase "hem and haw," a term for indecisiveness.) They live in a maze, a representation of one's environment, and look for cheese, representative of happiness and success. Initially without cheese, each group, the mice and humans, paired off and traveled the lengthy corridors searching for cheese. As they find cheese and the cheese disappears they must each make their own decisions as to what to do next.

There are some great quotes from the book that particular resonant with myself -


How many of us stop adapting and progressing in our lives because of what might happen? We tend to try and predict, without any real reason behind it. Is it something we have learnt to do? Or is it something that has happened to us in the past that holds us back. What are the stories that we are telling ourselves? 




If we look at the animal kingdom animals are constantly changing and adapting to their environment that they live. Plants are the same. Up at the Poor Knights Marine Reserve in Northland, NZ some of the specifics that live on the protected islands  have completely adapted to their life - whether it be to grow bigger or smaller! Giant centipedes exist, along with giant Weta. They have adapted so they can thrive and not become extinct. If we as humans, within our environment (work or personal) don't change and adapt then sooner or later you are no longer needed/wanted/relevant or up to date. We as humans can't keep doing what we've always done and except to get the same results.



The above image comes from the book - have a look at the different ideas for the handwriting on the wall. Which one of these do you need to work on? 
How scared of change are you?
And if you weren't afraid what would you do? 

Have a think - write it down. And this week look at your mindset and what you won't change - or more importantly why you won't change. What about your organisation that you work in? Does it have a growth or fixed mindset? What changes could you do within the space? 

Until next week.









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