The Times Are Shifting. Will You?
By Jeff Whitaker
Is it me or is this weather crazy? One day rain, then snow the next. The temperatures are in the fifties one day and back to the twenties the next. So, we walk out the door wearing a parka on a Monday and by Wednesday it’s a windbreaker; sweater, no sweater. You get the idea. If you don’t like the weather today, stick around twenty four hours and it’ll change.
It reminds me of what my mentor John Maxwell writes about in his latest book Leadershift. He says that if we as leaders are to succeed in this economy, in this “environment”, we need to be open to change. Not only open but looking for change. We need to be adaptable and willing to make shifts and realize that often these shifts come rather quickly. He uses the example of planning for the future. He says someone asked him recently to talk about the term fast forward. Maxwell said that the reality is fast is faster than ever before and forward is shorter. It used to be, if you were making long term plans, you were talking 10 years out. Now long term is two years out at the most. Why is that? Because with technology and such; with needs changing and ideas coming onto the scene everyday, you and I can’t plan out ten years with any certainty. So, we have to be able to make shifts; the shifts necessary to stay ahead of our competition. When I work with companies and individuals looking to grow their teams or sharpen their skills, we often talk about the importance of always being open to learning and discovering new ways of approaching our business or organization. I challenge them to look for new and innovative ways to tackle their struggles and how to think outside of the box to stay ahead of their competition. Failure to do this is one of the major reasons new businesses don’t last. The reality is, if you and I chose to remain stagnant, we’ll soon find ourselves out of the game. The businesses that will succeed in todays world are the ones who are forward thinking and adaptable. So, like the weather, look at the forecast, but then be prepared to make last minute adjustments and shifts because you and I never know when the winds of change will blow our way.
Jeff Whitaker is a lifelong communicator and storyteller. He is a certified trainer, coach and speaker with The John Maxwell Team. Jeff’s goal is to encourage excellence in individuals and corporations through leadership and communications training. Connect with him at jeffwhitaker.com, through The Jeff Whitaker Company on Facebook or @jeffwhitaker on Twitter.
