The road map to success continues to change. Follow an old road and you’re likely to get lost. Welcome to finding your way in the new normal, where complex landscapes constantly shift. And true north isn’t always true, or north.
Marshall Goldsmith’s seminal book “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There” identifies critical reasons why people who previously enjoyed success in their careers are no longer succeeding. Among them are; 1) delusional thinking based on previous successes, 2) failing to comprehend the impact of new developments, 3) an irrational ‘need to be right’ mindset, 4) a misplaced confidence in their ability to overcome adversity.
If you’re fortunate to be in a high margin market, the impact of these failures may take longer to manifest. However, one of the harsh new realities for some people is that they now live in a world of no second chances. For them, dodging bullets in the hope of surviving another quarter is as good as it gets.
As the pace of change continues to accelerate, sometimes the next step has yet to be diagrammed. Former playbooks based on prior assumptions and rules are discarded as developments around the globe show up on our doorstep within minutes.
Ready, fire, aim more closely reflects these new marketplace realities. Moving targets may be harder to hit. But if you wait until all the information is in before taking your best shot, you may not get a shot. A faster moving competitor has already taken the game.
In spite of better technology, faster processors, increased memory and more powerful software, the sheer volume of information leaves even veteran executives vexed. Historically, defining paradigms, simplifying complexity and driving execution of strategy were primary leadership functions. Recognizing when it’s time to change course is rapidly becoming a key leadership function as well.
Historically, one of the gold standards for success has been good, old-fashioned hard work. But in our practice, we are increasingly witnessing situations where people work themselves to exhaustion. The phrase “24/7” is more than a phrase. It’s the story of people’s lives becoming consumed by their jobs. As the volume of work expands, many find they are pushed to their limits, or beyond. They either find new ways to expand their capacity, or burnout trying.
Another success axiom used to be, “The best predictor of future performance is past performance”. We’ve entered a new era, where change is likely to be the only constant. Perhaps now, the axiom should be, “The best predictor of future performance are those with a track record of driving change.”
Facing unprecedented challenges, it’s time to take stock. There is a new normal. If you’ve been in the trenches, with eyes wide open, you’ve known that for some time. Truly innovative companies, who place a premium on speed and agility are capturing market share from their ostrich competitors.
There is no going back to the way it was before. But there is good news. There still is a landscape. It’s filled with opportunities, which are often disguised as problems. As these new challenges and paradigms get defined, some leaders have the clarity to correctly grasp problems, convert them to opportunities and present their product or service as the right solution. They are in front of the curve because they consistently predict which direction it will change. If you’re on a team led by this type of manager, playing in the game can be enjoyable. Winning is always more fun.
What needs to change?
Is someone like this leading your team? If not – that’s a good place to start.
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