We all have experienced new employees with a two-week tenure talking about what happened three years ago like they were there.
That happens because teams, businesses, and even our company culture, have memories. When people who have “been there” or “done that”, relive those memories, they imprint those stories, lessons, and cultural narrative on everyone who walks through the door. As comforting as those stories might be, they can make planning, preparing, and change itself, a struggle. Because the memory becomes the consequence for any scenario that it resembles.
Overcoming the old ways of planning and preparation
Here’s a truth about being human – once an idea, concept, or way of doing something is imprinted on us, it is difficult to change it. We get hooked on the story; we can be hooked on a ‘way of doings’, both personally and professionally. Facts do not seem to matter. Why ROI Doesn’t Help in Selling Technology Products.
Knowing this – and planning or acting accordingly – goes a long way in how we inspire cultures to change, especially at important shifts in time, like a new year.
That’s why planning and preparing is critical for how we choose to engage teams and people. We need to start shifting the story now.
When engaging cultures to plan ahead, to prepare for those plans, and then, be open to change, lookout for:
- Confirmation bias: New facts or data accepted when supporting but dismissed when they don’t;
- Informal policies and processes: Work-arounds or rationalizing of gaps or conflicts in the existing;
- Old Guard behaviors: Defending the prestige, autonomy and resources acquired.
Engagement, not delegation is key
Engaging teams in the process of planning ahead, shifting their thinking, and preparing for something new can be an exciting time. As scary as that unknown space is, there are new answers and ways to solve problems to be found there. A case study of how a military major command changed.
Your work as a leader right now is to prepare others for that space where innovation thrives.
Make the experience of working through that unknown space feel known and familiar. An experience where taking on something new feels like a place they belong. Work will be done more productively. Organizations can see up to a 15% improvement when they say what they do and do what they say. And we just might – finally – move on from some of the stories that are holding us back from experiencing the change we’re ready for, change for which we’ve been preparing.
